the Sponge Guide - www.spongeguide.org

Demospongiae > Poecilosclerida > Mycalidae > Mycale microsigmatosa

Observed Characteristics:

Color:

red
orange
orange-yellow

Morphology:

branching
bushy
encrusting
massive

Consistency:

crumbly
soft

Sample Locations:

Bahamas
Colombia
United States

Species Description and Notes

Notes: Thick encrustations to repent branches with scattered membranous oscules. Surface smooth or with spined elevations (possibly made up by worm tubes or hydroid stalks). Skin transparent and thick; the orange to red color looks like curd beneath the dermis. Material from the Bahamas did not have microsclere spicules, but the identification was made from the skeletal arrangement, texture and color. Florida material only have part of the microsclere spicule complement, and variable among specimens.

Author Reference: (Arndt, 1927)

 

Link: World Porifera Database

 

Images

Mycale microsigmatosa


Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Colombia, Santa Marta
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: United States, Florida, Biscayne Bay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: United States, Florida, Biscayne Bay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: United States, Florida, Biscayne Bay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea