Identifying Sponges

Key to California Porifera (Page 030)

( From page 029 B) Skeleton of Styles - Subtylostyles in ascending tracts. Acanthostyles 1 size class.
[A]
Acanthostyles < 91 μm.
Sponge made up of anastomosing branches.
Habitat: bays (Introduced to San Francisco Bay).
cc030A.jpg (Ellis & Solander, 1786)
Sponge: Encrusting when immature, made up of anastomosing branches when mature.
Color: Alive: Red, orange, brown.
Spicules: Megascleres: (1) Acanthostyles: 80 - 90 um. x 7.0 - 8.0 um.
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(2) Styles to Subtylostyles: 155 - 175 um. x 3.0 -3.5 um.
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(3) Styles to Subtylostyles with microspined heads: 180 - 225 um. x 10.0 -12.5 um.
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Microscleres:
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(1) Palmate Isochelae: 16 - 20 um.
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(2) Toxas: 15 - 100 um.
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Skeleton: Ectosome: Smaller Styles to Subtylostyles grouped at surface. Choanosome: Ascending plumose tracts of large styles to Subtylostyles with terminal tufts that extend beyond the surface. Smaller Styles to Subtylostyles grouped at surface. Acanthostyles sparsely echinating tracts.
Distribution: Central California. Introduced.
Depth: Intertidal.
Note: Was Microciona prolifera.
[B] GO TO PAGE 031
Acanthostyles size > 100 μm.
Sponge encrusting.
Habitat: coast.
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