Species Overview

Antho (Antho) lithophoenix (de Laubenfels, 1927).

SPONGE:

Shape: Encrusting
Size_Thickness: --3 cm
Color_Alive: Scarlet
Consistency: Firm

HABITAT:

Benthic Region: Marine:Intertidal; Subtidal;Deep Water
Depth: --39 m
Distribution: Southern California to Central California

Ectosome:

Architecture: Acanthose spicule reticulation with longer acanthose spicules and Styles arising at the nodes-often penetrating surface
Spicules: Thin Styles to Subtylostyles standing erect at or near the surface

Megasclere:

Shape: Acanthostyle to Acanthostrongyle
Length: 113 -(134 |149) - 160 µ
Width: 11.0 - -12.5 µ

Megasclere:

Shape: Acanthostyles to Acanthostrongyles-often with microspined heads
Length: 154 -(179|197)- 301 µ
Width: 11.5 -- 13.0 µ

Megasclere:

Shape: Style
Length: 147 -(197|309) - 447 µ
Width: 12.5 - -14) µ

Megasclere:

Shape: Styles to Subtylostyles often with microspined heads.
Length: 121 -(200|272)- 383 µ
Width: 3.5 -- 4.5 µ

Microsclere:

Shape: Palmate Isochelae
Length: 13 -(19|22)- 26 µ

Microsclere:

Shape: Toxa
Length: 19 -(83|116)- 260 µ

Surface:

Texture: hispid - superficially tuberculate - tubercles 1 - 2 mm high

Oscula:

Density: rare
Diameter: -0.5- mm

Choanosome:

Architecture: A reticulation of Acanthostyles to Acanthostrongyles with the longer Acanthostyles and Styles arising at the nodes-often penetrating the surface

Skeleton:

Composition: Silicate
Architecture: A reticulation of Acanthostyles to Acanthostrongyles with the longer Acanthostyles and Styles arising at the nodes-often penetrating the surface