Xestospongia arenosa

Rützler, Klaus, Piantoni, Carla, Van, Rob W. M. & Díaz, Cristina, 2014, Diversity of sponges (Porifera) from cryptic habitats on the Belize barrier reef near Carrie Bow Cay, Zootaxa 3805 (1), pp. 1-129 : 91

Xestospongia arenosa van Soest & de Weerdt, 2001

Synonymy and references. Xestospongia arenosa van Soest & de Weerdt, 2001: 110, figs. 1–3.

Material. USNM 1229138, Carrie Bow Cay forereef crevice, 25 m; M. C. Diaz col. 8 Sep 2009.

External morphology. The specimen is a conical process rising from the substratum (a crevice bottom), 40 x 25 mm at the base, 90 mm tall, ending in an osculum of 12 mm diameter. Surface finely rough, consistency brittle. Color in life white, more like cream in alcohol.

Skeleton structure. At the surface, oxeas form a tangential uni- or paucispicular meshwork. The choanosomal network is similar but accompanied by loose spicules in no particular orientation. Sand grains are common throughout the sponge’s interior.

Spicules. All are oxeas, slightly bent and many with blunt tips: 420–560 x 8–18 (480 x 13) Μm.

Ecology. A coral reef-associated species, 14– 41 m.

Distribution. Caribbean-wide.

Comments. The type specimens were reported to have been found largely covered by sand and small-size coral rubble. Our specimen was free of sand cover but instead was light-protected inside a reef crevice. Sand grains inside the body showed its affinity for such foreign material.