[A]
Tylostyles < 300 μm.
Microscleres: Sigmas and may include Diancistras. |
| | Hamacantha (Vomerula) hyaloderma
(de Laubenfels, 1932) |
Sponge:
Thinly, encrusting to 1-3 mm thick.
Surface: soft, fleshy, smooth.
Color: Alive: Deep blue-violet, gray-lavender; yellow-brown.
Spicules: Megascleres:
(1) Tylostyles:
142-171-187-227 um.
x 5 -7 um.
Microscleres:
(1) Sigmas:
12 -23-25- 65 um.
(2) Diancistras:
23-30-33-41 um.
May be scarce.
Skeleton:
Ectosome fleshy, packed with microscleres.
Choanosome with scattered plumose tracts of Tylostyles, points upward and outward. These form terminal brushes at surface.
Distribution: Central, Northern California.
Depth: Intertidal to subtidal.
Note: Was Zygherpe hyaloderma.
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[B]
Subtylostyles - Tylostyles > 500 μm.
Microscleres: sigmas only.
|
| | Desmacella vagabunda
Schmidt, 1870 |
Sponge:
Amorphous.
Consistency: fragile.
Color: Alive: Drab.
Spicules: Megascleres:
(1)Subtylostyles to Tylostyles:
255 -308-372- 1006 um.
x - 15 - um.
Microscleres:
(1)Sigmas:
13 -23-61- 72 um.
Skeleton:
Ectosome:Thin, detachable, fleshy dermis with a few microscleres.
Choanosome of short plumose columns of megascleres with points toward the surface.
Distribution: Southern, Central California.
Depth: Deep water, 700 to 1243 m.
Note: De Laubenfels originally decribed this species as occurring in California on the basis of one small piece of a specimen. Review of more recently collected material suggests that there may be more than a single species of Desmacella from California. In addition, the status of the legitimacy of D. vagabunda is in question. These species need much more extensive review.
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