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Demospongiae > Poecilosclerida > Microcionidae > Clathria (Thalysias) curacaoensis

Observed Characteristics:

Color:

red
white
yellow
brown
orange
cream
cinnamon-tan
orange-yellow

Morphology:

branching
encrusting

Consistency:

soft
tough

Sample Locations:

Bahamas
Netherland Antilles

Species Description and Notes

Notes: Placed also under genera Aulospongus<(/i>, Microciona, Rhaphidophlus and Thalysias. Also known as Clathria schoenus (de Laubenfels, 1936) and Clathria raraechelae (van Soest, 1984). Thin encrustations to tangled branches with a transparent skin and red and yellow interior (often speckled). Exhalant canals in a star pattern centering in the oscules are evident. Southern Caribbean populations have stouter spicules and there is a small category of chelae (=microchela) absent in Bahamian material.

Author Reference: Arndt, 1927

 

Link: World Porifera Database

 

Images

Clathria (Thalysias) curacaoensis


Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Tadeusz Molinski

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Tadeusz Molinski

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Micha Ilan

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Micha Ilan

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Micha Ilan

Location: Netherland Antilles, Bonaire
Photographer: Joseph Pawlik