Sponge Guide

UNCW National Science Foundation Valdosta State University Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Observed Characteristics:

Color:

  • pink-lilac
  • orange
  • cream
  • cinnamon-tan
  • orange-yellow

Morphology:

  • encrusting
  • fan
  • lobate
  • massive
  • vase

Consistency:

  • soft
  • tough

Sample Locations:

  • Bahamas
  • Netherland Antilles
  • Saint Lucia
  • United States

Agelas citrina

Notes: Pinkish, tan or orange, ear-shaped thick fans; orange when filling crevices. The latter may be confused with Clathria faviformis Lehnert & van Soest, 1996, pictured here. It may be confused with Agelas clathrodes (Schmidt, 1870), also pictured here, which is harder. A. citrina has a thick skin, which in some portions forms conules or it is stretched over depressions. When they co-exist in the same locality, they can be distinguised by color, being milkier and lighter in A. citrina. Spicules are acanthostyles.

Author Reference: Gotera & Alcolado, 1987

Link: World Porifera Database