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Demospongiae > Halichondrida > Halichondriidae > Topsentia ophiraphidites

Observed Characteristics:

Color:

yellow
brown
pink-lilac
purple-violet
cream
cinnamon-tan

Morphology:

branching
encrusting
fan
lobate
massive
spherical
tube

Consistency:

crumbly
hard
tough

Sample Locations:

Bahamas

Species Description and Notes

Notes: Stiff to hard, globular to massive-amorphous with velvety-hispid surface, often partly buried in sediments or filling crevices in hard substrata, and with projecting elevations, pointed or lobed, sometimes with branchelets. Color from light brown-cinnanon to yellowish. Deep or cave specimens whitish. Reglardless of shape and color, we have placed under this species all stiff specimens with several categories of stout oxea, some of them bent twice, often erect as a palisade in the surface. Perhaps there is more than one species involved, but this needs further studies. For synonymies and related species see Álvarez et al. (1993).

Author Reference: (de Laubenfels, 1934)

 

Link: World Porifera Database

 

Images

Topsentia ophiraphidites


Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Cat Cays - Bimini
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Cat Cays - Bimini
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, San Salvador
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Northern Exuma Cays
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Plana Cays
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Great Inagua
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Great Inagua
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Great Inagua
Photographer: Sven Zea