Species Overview

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Forcepia (Forcepia) hymena (de Laubenfels, 1930 ) .

Synonyms:
Wilsa hymena de Laubenfels, 1930.

SPONGE:
Growth Habit: Attached to rocks etc
SPONGE:
Shape: Globular; massive
Size_height: to 3.5 cm
Color_Alive: Drab
Color_Preserved: Dark tan to brown
Consistency: Soft; compressible; spongy
HABITAT:
Benthic Region: Marine: Deep water
Depth: 700 -- 1216 m
Distribution: San Diego Trough to Monterey Bay: California
Growth Habit: Attached to rocks etc

CHARACTERS

Megasclere:
Shape: Styles
Length: 330--600 µ
Width: 10--15 µ
Microsclere:
Shape: Palmate Anisochela]Length
Microsclere:
Shape: Forceps
Length: 10--12 µ
Microsclere:
Shape: Sigmas
Length: 55 -- 75 µ
Microsclere:
Shape: Sigmas
Length: - 250- µ
Surface:
Texture: Some areas superficially smooth; but mostly roughened
Contour: shallow grooves and smooth ridges and small rounded conules
Skeleton:
Composition: Silicate
Oscula:
Density: numerous
Shape: round to elongate
Diameter: 1.5 -- 4.0 mm
Rims: Flush with surface.
Ectosome:
Dermal membrane: with abundant microscleres
Architecture: compact bundles of Subtylotes below and parallel to surface.
Choanosome:
Architecture: Rugged reticulation of Styles between tracts of Styles. Frequently with much sand and detritus
Megasclere:
Shape: Styles
Length: 533 -601- 697 µ
Width: 13 -14- 16 µ
Megasclere:
Shape: Subtylotes
Length: 273 -327- 448 µ
Width: 5.5 -6.9- 7.0 µ
Microsclere:
Shape: Arcuate Isochelae
Length: 24 -38- 48 µ
Microsclere:
Shape: Sigmas
Length: 60 -77- 99 µ
Microsclere:
Shape: Sigmas
Length: 169 -208- 243 µ
Microsclere:
Shape: Forceps
Length: 22 -38- 51 µ