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Demospongiae > Hadromerida > Spirastrellidae > Diplastrella sp.1

Observed Characteristics:

Color:

red
orange

Morphology:

encrusting

Consistency:

soft

Sample Locations:

Bahamas

Species Description and Notes

Notes: Thinly encrusting, soft, bright vermillion red with oscules and exhalant canals visible forming a star pattern. Skeleton as closely spaced brushes or erect tylostyles 240-520 by 5-11 µm, traversing a cortex of diplaster-like microscleres, 7.5-19 µm. It does not conform to the other Diplastrella species described for the Caribbean (D. megastellata Hechtel, 1965, not yet included here), but detailed comparisons with Timea species must be carried out. It si very similar in shape and color to Diplastrella sp. 2 (also pictured here), but lacks the oxyspheraster microscleres that the latter has.

Images

Diplastrella sp.1


Location: Bahamas, Hogsty Reef
Photographer: Sven Zea