Species Overview

Forcepia (Forcepia) elvini Lee, 2001.

SPONGE:

Shape: Encrusting; thick; irregular; somewhat rounded
Size_height: -2.5- cm
Size_wide: -3.5- cm
Color_Preserved: Cream-white
Consistency: firm

HABITAT:

Benthic Region: Marine: Deep water
Distribution: Central California: Cordell Bank

Surface:

Texture: superficially smooth; hispid
Contour: some lobes or layered flat plates.

Oscula:

Visible: difficult to interpret
Diameter: 1 -- 3 mm in diameter mm
Shape: round to nearly so
Density: Abundant
Rims: flush with surface

Ectosome:

Architecture: Thin layer of packed Subtylotes over which is a layer of packed microscleres.

Choanosome:

Architecture: Robust reticulation of Styles.

Skeleton:

Composition: Silicate
Architecture: Robust reticulation of Styles.

Megasclere:

Shape: Styles - Acanthostyles
Length: 257 -338- 393 µ
Width: 15 -16- 18

Megasclere:

Shape: Subtylotes
Length: 222 -251- 335 µ
Width: 6 -7- 10 µ

Microsclere:

Shape: Arcuate Isochelae
Length: 16 -19- 21 µ

Microsclere:

Shape: Arcuate Isochelae
Length: 26 -44- 49 µ

Microsclere:

Shape: Forceps
Length: 11 -15- 28 µ

Microsclere:

Shape: Forceps
Length: 36 - 49- 55 µ

Microsclere:

Shape: Sigmas
Length: 39 - 49- 56 µ