Identifying Sponges

Key to California Porifera (Page 016)

( From page 015 B) Tylostyle size < 700 μm, range < 590 μm.
[A]
Centrotylote Strongyle microscleres present, although they may be rare.
Tylostyles to 680 μm.
cc016A.jpg
Suberites latus Lambe, 1892
Sponge: Semispherical, broadly lobate. Consistency: spongy, compressible but firm. Surface: hispid, uneven. Often associated with a hermit crab or mollusk shell.
Color: Alive: Yellow-tan to yellow-orange. Preserved: Yellowish-brown in ethanol.
Spicules: Megascleres: (1) Tylostyle*: 90 -197-321- 680 um. x 2.5 -5.1-8.6- 12 um. Rarely includes styles or oxeas. May include a few Tylostrongyles
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Microscleres:
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(1) centrotylote Strongyles: 12.3 -21.2-28.5- 56 um. x 1.2 -2.6-3.1- 4.0 um. May be rare.
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Skeleton: Ectosome: Dermal membrane present. Choanosome: Confused with only a few tracts to the surface.
Distribution: Southern to Northern California.
Depth: Deep water, to 183 m.
Note: *This species often confused with S. domunculus and S. ficus both of which are often associated with hermit crabs. Reported by Bakus and Green, 1987, as S. ficus from Southern California. This group may be represented by sibling species. More work needs to be done to clarify these identifications.
[B] GO TO PAGE 017
NO centrotylote Strongyle microscleres present.
Tylostyles under 490 μm.
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