Verongida, Aplysinidae
|
|
| Growth Form: | Stubby, barrel-shaped, 10-30 cm high and wide, with a terminal oscule. |
| Surface: | Convoluted with meandering grooves a few cm deep. The sides of the barrel may be overgrown by turf. |
| Color: | Brownish gray externally, lighter internally. |
| Consistency: | Rubbery, easy to cut. |
| Oscules: | Terminal on top of barrel, 2-5 cm across, with a marginal membrane the same color as the surrounding tissue. |
| Skeletal components (Spicules, fibers): | No spicules. Fibers are amber-colored, 120-160 μm across), with a tan organic pith 10-30% of the fiber diameter. |
| Skeletal Architecture: | No surface specialization; fibers from the interior form conules when they reach the surface. Interior skeleton: prismatic fiber meshwork forming polygonal meshes, in a regular isotropic reticulation. |
| Ecology: | On deeper reef habitats. |
| Distribution: | Southeastern Florida, 21 m deep. |
| Notes: | This Aplysina species is similar in surface structure and tubular growth form to Aplysina lacunosa. However, the chubby, barrel shape and deep grooves make it quite distinct from A. lacunosa observed elsewhere. Comparative study of other samples must be carried out to determine if this growth form is characteristic of South Florida, or if other features suggest that it is conspecific with or distinct from A. lacunosa. |
| Reference(s): | van Soest (1978) |