Identifying Sponges

Key to California Porifera (Page 236)

( From page 235 B) NO basal plate of spongin and fibers not dendritic. Fibers anastomose to form a reticulation. No special ectosomal reticulation.
[A] GO TO PAGE 238
Spongin fibers forming a reticulation.
Fibers may be cored with foreign spicules or sand grains.*
NO color changes on drying.
cc236A.jpg
*Note: Spicules may be considered foreign if most are broken, if there are improbable combinations (calcareous or siliceous) or the density is low.
[B]
Spongin fibers forming a loose reticulation in a stiff jelly-like endosome permeated by canals.
Fibers clear yellow, lamellate.
Color changes from bright yellow to purple, then black on drying (exposure to air).
Aiolochroia thiona (de Laubenfels, 1930)
Sponge: Encrusting to 4 cm.
Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Undefined constant "BSurface" in /home/thackerdb2/public_html/casponges/programfiles/WCS_Key4.php:297 Stack trace: #0 {main} thrown in /home/thackerdb2/public_html/casponges/programfiles/WCS_Key4.php on line 297