Siphonodictyon brevitubulatum Pang, 1973

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

Siphonodictyon brevitubulatum Pang, 1973

Fig. 29

Diagnostic features.

Small abundant fistules (0.5-1 cm wide, 1-3 cm high) and rare long oscular tubes (1.5 cm in diameter), bright yellow in color. Smooth surface of fistules and oscular tubes.

Similar species.

Siphonodictyon coralliophagum has much larger and thicker bright yellow oscular tubes and fistules.

Distribution and abundance.

The species is reported from Jamaica, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Martinique, and northwestern GOM in the FGBNMS. At the FGBNMS it was observed once at Geyer Bank, while analyzing the photograph of Syphonodictyon sp. nov. 1 (Fig. 28 ). This is the first report of this species at mesophotic depths.

Ecology.

Algal nodules. This species is a bio-eroding sponge.

Identification.

MCD.

Reference.

Pang 1973.

Figures

Figure 28. Siphonodictyon sp. nov. 1, 67 m deep. Sample GFOE 3 - 2.

Figure 29. Siphonodictyon brevitubulatum, 67 m deep. Inset taken from Fig. 28 upper right.