[A]
Lobate, ramose or digitate. Spicules cored and free. |
| | Chalinula ecbasis
(de Laubenfels, 1930) |
Sponge:
Lobate, ramose or digitate to 10 cm high and 1 cm in diameter.
Surface: superficially hirsute. Pores all over surface, irregular, 60-200 μm.
Oscula: Oscules few, apical, 2-5 mm in diameter or along sides of tubes.
Color: Alive: Buff, brown, tan, purple to pinkish purple and lavender.
Spicules: Megascleres:
(1) Oxeas:
100 um.
x 5 um.
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Fell (see note below) describes oxeas 84-119-133-145 μm.
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Skeleton:
Ectosome, vague with thin dermal membrane and no spicules.
Choanosome fibrous reticulation with polygonal meshes 75 μm in diameter. Spicules otherwise in confusion. Ascending and transverse fibers 10-20 μm in diameter, cored by 4-7 rows of spicules although the amount of spongin varies greatly.
Distribution: Southern and ? Northern California.
Depth: Intertidal.
Note: Also described by Fell, 1970 and said to have gemmules. Very similar to Chalinula loosanoffi. and Haliclona sp. B of Hartman all of which are highly variable. All three need to be carefully examined and compared as identification at this time is difficult. Was Haliclona ecbasis.
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Thinly (1-2 mm thick) encrusting, spicules cored and free. OR Massive and spicules only coring fibers.
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