Haliclona (Reniera) implexiformis ( Hechtel, 1965 )

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 : 81

Haliclona (Reniera) implexiformis ( Hechtel, 1965)

Synonymy and references. Haliclona (Reniera) implexiformis ( Hechtel, 1965) : de Weerdt, 2000: 17, figs. 3M, 6.

Material. USNM 1229104, Carrie Bow Cay back reef, inside dead conch shell, 0.5 m. K. Ruetzler and C. Piantoni col. 23 Feb 2006. USNM 1229105, Carrie Bow Cay south back reef, lower surface of rock slab, 1 m; K. Ruetzler col. 13 Mar 0 9.

External morphology. Thin (3 mm) crust covering 8 cm 2 area. Oscula flush with smooth surface, 2 mm diameter. Live color was cream.

Skeleton structure. Ectosome and choanosome show the same isodictyal reticulation of oxeas, held together by small amounts of spongin.

Spicules. Slightly curved oxeas, tapering to blunt points: 110–170 x 3–10 (143 x 6) Μm.

Ecology. Very common on reefs and in mangroves, to 25 m.

Distribution. Bermuda, Florida, and throughout the Caribbean.