| Common Name(s): |
None |
| Growth Form: |
Thickly encrusting to irregularly low massive or lobate, sometimes developing runner-like thickly encrusting extensions. |
| Surface: |
Smooth, porous, often slightly undulating, rugged or lumpy, or with narrow conical to flattened protuberances. |
| Color: |
Dark greenish brown exteriorly; interior cream. |
| Consistency: |
Hard, dense, but not very brittle. |
| Exudate: |
Adhesive mucus when cut and touched; adheres to gloves, hands and knives. |
| Oscules: |
Flush, slightly elevated, or on top of protuberances, 3-10 mm in diameter. |
| Skeletal Components (Spicules, Fibers): |
Straight or slightly bent rods with 2 abruptly pointed ends (hastate oxea). Small bow-shaped microscleres (toxa) sometimes present. |
| Skeletal Architecture: |
Thick spicule tracts form rounded meshes, but are obscured by numerous loose spicules. Ascending tracts tend to be thicker. |
| Ecology: |
On coral reefs, hard bottoms, rubble and sand. |
| Distribution: |
South Florida to Colombia and Brazil. Local depth range: 6-12 m. |
| References: |
Duchassaing & Michelotti (1864), Zea (1987). |
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| Similar species: |
Svenzea zeai |
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