Ircinia felix ( Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 )

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 : 93-94

Ircinia felix ( Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864)

Synonymy and references. Ircinia felix ( Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) : Wiedenmayer (1977): 60, pl. 4: 3; van Soest (1978): 33, fig. 11; pl. 6: 4.

Material. USNM 1229143, Carrie Bow Cay west, under concrete dock, 0.5 m; K. Ruetzler col. 12 May 1978. More specimens were observed under rock and in forereef caves but not collected.

External morphology. Irregular massive and lobate, with oscula slightly raised on lobes. Overall dimensions, 10 x 7 cm, 2 cm thick. Finely conulose surface, conules about 1 mm tall and 2 mm apart. Oscules measure up to 8 mm in diameter. Consistency very tough; color purplish brown, oscules surrounded by a darker, nearly black collar.

Skeleton. The ectosome is a tough, conulose skin. Ascending, fasciculated primary fibers (300–500 Μm thick) support the conules and are loaded with sediment particles. The connecting secondaries (20–100 Μm) are mostly clear of debris. Associated filaments (3 Μm) occur in thick strands, their ends ball-shaped and about 10 Μm in diameter.

Ecology. A member of the open-reef and mangrove community, but also observed under rocks and in cave habitats, 0.5– 20 m.

Distribution. Bermuda, Florida, and the entire Caribbean region.