Species Overview

Tethya californiana (de Laubenfels, 1935).

SPONGE:

Shape: Globular or subglobular
Size_diameter: to 6 cm
Color_Alive: Red-orange or orange or yellow-green oryellow-ochre or gold
Consistency: Spongy and fragile

HABITAT:

Benthic Region: Intertidal to deep water
Distribution: Southern to Northern California

Surface:

Contour: warty with flattened mushroom-shaped elevations about 2 -4 mm wide and 1-2 mm high crowded over the surface
Note: Surface regosity varies with degree of sponge contraction

Skeleton:

Composition: Silicate
Architecture: fleshy with radiate fascicular tracts 250 - 800 mm thick

Oscula:

Visible: not evident

Ectosome:

Architecture: 2 layered cortex about 1 - 2 mm thick

Choanosome:

Architecture: fleshy with radiate fascicular tracts 250 - 800 mm thick

Megasclere:

Shape: Fusiform Strongyles (Anisostrongyles)

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