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Demospongiae > Dictyoceratida > Thorectidae > Smenospongia conulosa

Observed Characteristics:

Color:

gray
green
black
brown

Morphology:

lobate
massive
tube
vase

Consistency:

tough

Sample Locations:

Bahamas
United States

Species Description and Notes

Notes: Massive, with oscular mounds or volcanoes, dark green to brown black or gray. It becomes dark and exudes abundant mucus when handled. Distinguished from S. aurea (Hyatt, 1875), also pictured here, by having blunt ends of primary fibers protruding on the surface, while the surface of S. aurea forms a honeycomb pattern of ridges. These primary fibers are also wider apart than in S. aurea. S. aurea fibers are also wider, especially the secondary reticulum, with many characteristic rectangular meshes (longer axis perpendicular to de surface).

Author Reference: Pulitzer-Finali, 1986

 

Link: World Porifera Database

 

Images

Smenospongia conulosa


Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Little San Salvador
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Little San Salvador
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Little San Salvador
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Santo Domingo Cay
Photographer:

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: United States, Florida Keys
Photographer: Joseph Pawlik

Location: United States, Florida Keys
Photographer: Joseph Pawlik

Location: United States, Florida Keys
Photographer: Joseph Pawlik

Location: United States, Florida Keys
Photographer: Joseph Pawlik

Location: Bahamas, Hogsty Reef
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Hogsty Reef
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Hogsty Reef
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Hogsty Reef
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Hogsty Reef
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Hogsty Reef
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Hogsty Reef
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Great Inagua
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Great Inagua
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Little Inagua
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Hogsty Reef
Photographer: Joseph Pawlik