Biemna cribaria (Alcolado & Gotera, 1986)

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

Biemna cribaria (Alcolado & Gotera, 1986)

Fig. 11

Diagnostic features.

Massive sub-spherical barrel growth form, with a top central dip. Color dark brown externally, tan internally. Multiple digitate projections on the surface on the top and side areas of the sponge. Oscula are aggregated on the concave upper depression.

Similar species.

The overall shape is reminiscent of other barrel sponges such as Ircinia strobilina or Spheciospongia vesparium , but the digitate projections of Biemna cribaria , and the skeleton allow their differentiation.

Distribution and abundance.

The sponge is rare in occurrence but reported at 20 m from Cuban and Jamaican reefs ( Alcolado 1984; Lehnert and van Soest 1998). This is the first report at mesophotic depths and in the northwestern GOM at FGBNMS. At FGBNMS it is rare and was observed only once at Bright Bank.

Ecology.

Coral communities, coralline algae reefs.

Identification.

MCD.

Reference.

Lehnert and van Soest 1998.

Figures

Figure 11. Biemna cribaria, 36 m deep. Photo code SP 22.