Outer morphology: Massive, small spherical sponge that can reach 7 cm in diameter. External color alive is orange, as well as the choanosome. In ethanol, color becomes yellowish. The surface is very hispid, which hides the true color of the sponge, and gives it a rather sandy color. Generally one oscule (ca 3 mm of diameter), which can be found in any part of the sponge. Porocalices (2 mm of diameter) are numerous and evenly distributed, especially on the sides. No macro-epibionts were found growing on this species, except filamentous red algae. No budding was observed. Skeleton: The skeleton organization is similar to that of C. alloclada except for the presence of trichodragmata. Radial bundles of oxeas cross the choanosome until and beyond the surface. A whitish ectosome layer is visible with the naked eye (ca 0.9 mm), it has less sigmas than in the choanosome. Anatriaenes are tangled with the oxea bundles. The cladomes of anatriaenes are placed in or just under the ectosome layer, or protruding beyond the surface. Protriaenes I and protriaenes II are present only around the oscules and porocalices (Fig. 3C). Protriaene cladomes were not found in the sponge, but only at its surface. Trichodragmata were common in the choanosome (never in the ectosome), with no particular orientation. Smaller stout oxeas, Haplosclerida-like, dispersed in the choanosome with no particular orientation. A few crystalline round structures (diameter of 91–127 μm) are present in the choanosome, only visible in thick sections. In the choanosome there are also some foreign spicules, foraminifera and diatoms. Spicules: Megascleres: (a) oxeas I, large, length: 2088–3526.2–4800 μm (N=14); width: 11–31.3–37 μm (N=14). (b) oxeas II (Fig. 3D), foreign?, short, stout, length: 141–169.9–219 μm; width: 6–9.4–13.6 μm. (c) protriaenes I, rhabdome length: > 2040 μm (rhabdomes broken); rhabdome width: 4–5.2–7 μm; clad length: 33–74–113 μm. (d) protriaenes II, rhabdome length: > 1440 (rhabdomes broken); rhabdome width: 2–2.9–4 μm; clad length: 8–20.7–29 μm. (e) anatriaenes (Fig. 3E), very common, rhabdome with whip–like end, rhabdome length: 2232–3708–4800 μm (N=4); rhabdome width: 2–4.1–7 μm; clad length: 11–44.7–68 μm. Microscleres: (f) trichodragmata, length: 135–203.3–248 μm; width: 7–14.1–30 μm. (g) sigmaspires (Fig. 3F), spiny, length: 8.7–10.4–12.5 μm (N=13); width: 0.9–1.2–1.4 μm (N=13).
Bocas Species Database
Habitat: On mangrove roots and peat (> 0.3 m deep). Distribution: North and South Carolina to Bermuda, southwestern Florida, Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Belize, and Panamá. Characteristics: Spherical to sub-spherical (up to 10 cm in diameter), yellow to gray externally, lighter internally. Surface is strongly hispid or furry. Porocalices abundant (up to 3 mm wide). Oscules rare, 2-3 mm wide. Soft and compressible.