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Demospongiae > Hadromerida > Spirastrellidae > Diplastrella sp.2

Observed Characteristics:

Color:

orange

Morphology:

encrusting

Consistency:

soft

Sample Locations:

Bahamas

Species Description and Notes

Notes: Thinly encrusting, soft, bright orange, with oscules and exhalant canals visible forming a star pattern. Megasclere spicules are tylostyles 330-670 µm. Microscleres are oxyspherasters 30-33 µm and diplasters 13-19 µm. It does not conform to the other Diplastrella species described for the Caribbean (D. megastellata Hechtel, 1965, not yet included here). It differs from Diplastrella sp. 1 (also photographed here) only in having the oxyspheraster microsclers, which are lacking in the latter. Perhaps they are the same species, but since these records are based on single specimens, we prefer to keep them separated. As for Diplastrella sp. 1, detailed comparisons with Timea species must be carried out.

Images

Diplastrella sp.2


Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Tadeusz Molinski