Callyspongia (Cladochalina) cf. armigera (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864)

Diaz, Maria Cristina, Nuttall, Marissa, Pomponi, Shirley A., Ruetzler, Klaus, Klontz, Sarah, Adams, Christi, Hickerson, Emma L. & Schmahl, G. P., 2023, An annotated and illustrated identification guide to common mesophotic reef sponges (Porifera, Demospongiae, Hexactinellida, and Homoscleromorpha) inhabiting Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and vicinities, ZooKeys 1161, pp. 1-68 : 1

Callyspongia (Cladochalina) cf. armigera (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864)

Fig. 21

Diagnostic features.

Short repent branch, gray to cream in color, with thorny conules and a porous surface. Few oscula visible (3-4 mm wide). This species commonly grows as erect branches, although repent specimens are reported in the literature.

Similar species.

The abundant thorny conules and the stiff consistency of this species allows its morphological diferentiation, Pleraplysilla sp. 2 (Fig. 56 ) has similar pronounced but shorter conules and the sponge is quite soft and less porous that this species.

Distribution and abundance.

An occasional species in shallow coral reefs throughout the Caribbean, south GOM, and Florida. Found at mesophotic reefs in Cuba (52 m) and in northwestern GOM at FGBNMS, occurring in low abundance (2-10) at one site.

Ecology.

Coralline algae reefs.

Identification.

KR, SK, CA, MCD.

Reference.

Wiedenmayer 1977.

Figures

Figure 21. Callyspongia cf. armigera, 63 m deep. Photo code SP 42. Sample DFH 6 - 39 - 6.

Figure 56. Pleraplysilla sp. 2, 47 m deep. Sample GFOE 3 - 19.