Species Overview

Hymeniacidon tuscarius (Ristau, 1978).

SPONGE:

Shape: Thick encrusting
Size_Thickness: --1.5 cm
Color_Alive: Light to medium dark brown exterior/dark chocolate brown interior
Consistency: slightly spongy; compressible

HABITAT:

Benthic Region: Marine: on wrack
Depth: --7 m
Distribution: Central California:Carmel to Bodega Bay

Surface:

Texture: very hispid

Oscula:

Shape: very irregular
Distribution: dispersed irregularly over surface

Ectosome:

Dermal membrane: 10 µm thick with brushes and spicules projecting in various directions throughout membrane

Choanosome:

Architecture: vertical multispicular tracts with confused echinating cross-connecting spicules
Tracts: often masked by confusing echinating arrangement
Note: When alive

Megasclere:

Shape: Oxeas
Length: 380 - -530 µ
Width: 10--22 µ
Note: most 440 - 480 x 18 µm

Skeleton:

Composition: Silicate
Architecture: vertical multispicular tracts with confused echinating cross-connecting spicules