Ircinia sp. 1

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

Ircinia sp. 1

Fig. 60

Diagnostic features.

Single, two, or three tubes connected at the base. Tubes taper towards the tip. Pink to white in life. The tubes in Fig. 60 are 13 cm high. The surface has minute conules homogeneously spaced. One large oscule per tube (~ 2 cm in diameter) with a thin paler membrane.

Similar species.

This is a very unique Ircinia species, probably undescribed.

Distribution and abundance.

This is an undescribed species of Ircinia . At FGBNMS the species was seen once at two localities. MCD has seen this species once in the Bahamas.

Ecology.

Silted coralline algae reefs, silted lower mesophotic reefs.

Identification.

CA, KR, SK, MCD.

Reference.

van Soest 1978.

Figures

Figure 60. Ircinia sp. 1, 54 - 60 m deep. Samples DFH 9 - 8 B, DFH 9 - 7 F.