Notes: Excavating sponge in which its small red-orange papillae are the only feature visible on the substratum. Upon breaking the coral where it dwells, the excavating chambers are revealed, which are filled by orange tissue. It can be confused with other tiny papillated sponges such as the excavating Pione lampa fo. occulta Rützler, 1974, pictured here, and the non-excavating but crevice-filling (when in reefs) Tedania ignis (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864), also pictured here. Papillae of Cliona delitrix Pang, 1973, pictured here, are larger.

Author Reference: Hancock, 1867

Link: World Porifera Database