Species Overview

Tetilla mutabilis de Laubenfels, 1930.

SPONGE:

Shape: Pedunculate-clavate to irregularly massive
Size_height: to 8 cm
Color_Alive: Dull red with green patches
Color_Preserved: Dull red
Consistency: spongy to cartilaginous

HABITAT:

Benthic Region: Marine: Subtidal to Deep water
Distribution: Southern California to ?Central California

Skeleton:

Composition: Silicate
Architecture: In Clavate form -a central axis of packed spicules. This surrounded by large chambers with the outer walls with spicules in confusion. In massive forms-no central core.

Surface:

Texture: superficially hirsute with repent exceedingly thin spicules matted together

Oscula:

Shape: oval
Rims: flush

Megasclere:

Shape: Prodiaenes/Protriaenes
Rhabd diameter: 1 -- 6 µ
Clad length: 30 - 90]- 6 µ

Megasclere:

Shape: Oxeas with filiform tip
Length: -2000- µ
Width: -9- µ

Megasclere:

Shape: Anatriaenes (rare)
Rhabd diameter: 3 -- 7 µ
Clad length: 20 -- 30 µ
Chord length: 30 -- 40 µ

Ectosome:

Architecture: Packed with Protriaenes;clads outward;arranged in non-erect brushes

Choanosome:

Architecture: In Clavate form -a central axis of packed spicules. This surrounded by large chambers with the outer walls with spicules in confusion. In massive forms-no central core.