Species Overview

005
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Xestospongia dubia (Ristau, 1978).

Synonyms:
Adocia dubia Ristau, 1978. .

SPONGE:
Shape: Encrusting
Size_Thickness: 4--8 mm
Consistency: Firm-Compressable
Color -Alive: White
HABITAT:
Benthic Region: Marine: Low Intertidal-Subtidal
Depth: 1.5 --7.0 m
Distribution: Central to Northern California

CHARACTERS

Oscula:
Diameter: 0.8--1.3 mm
Distribution: 3-5 mm apart
Rim: either with volcano-like rims 0.5-1.5 mm high or flush with surface
Choanosome:
Architecture: reticulation of multispicular tracts
Tracts: 6-10 spicules wide]
Architecture: Tracts varying to a confused arrangement of spicules
Surface:
Texture: smooth.
Ectosome:
Architecture: Tangential ectosomal skeleton
Tracts: 2-5 spicules wide
Architecture: irregular polygonal network with meshes 120-140 µm
Skeleton:
Composition: Silicate
Architecture: Reticulation of multispicular tracts 6-10 spicules wide
Megasclere:
Shape: Oxeas -straight to slightly curved.
Length: 140 -- 180 µ
Width: 10--16 µ