Species Overview

Axinella sp. A Green & Bakus, 1994.

SPONGE:

Shape: Encrusting
Color_Preserved: White to light tan
Consistency: firm

HABITAT:

Benthic Region: Marine: Deep water
Depth: 90 -- 130.5 m
Distribution: Santa Maria Basin; Santa Barbara Channel; Southern California

Surface:

Texture: crusty; prickly;hispid
Contour: may have digitate processes

Oscula:

Visible: No pores or oscula visible

Ectosome:

Architecture: Larger Styles perpendicular to surface with tips projecting from base

Choanosome:

Architecture: Encrusting base with condensed axis of spicules (mainly Oxeas and some small Styles) and spongin; larger Styles perpendicular to surface with tips projecting from base

Megasclere:

Shape: Styles
Length: 200 -636- 1500 µ
Width: 13 -19- 26 µ

Megasclere:

Shape: Oxeas
Length: 240 -351- 470 µ
Width: 10 -14- 18 µ

Megasclere:

Shape: Strongyles
Length: -400- µ
Width: -2.0- µ

Skeleton:

Composition: Silicate