Niphates amorpha Wiedenmayer, 1977

Rützler, Klaus, Piantoni, Carla, Van, Rob W. M. & Díaz, Cristina, 2014, Diversity of sponges (Porifera) from cryptic habitats on the Belize barrier reef near Carrie Bow Cay, Zootaxa 3805 (1), pp. 1-129 : 84-85

Niphates amorpha Wiedenmayer, 1977

Synonymy and references. Niphates amorpha Wiedenmayer, 1977 : van Soest (1980): 39, fig 13, pl. 19: 4.

Material. USNM 1229115, Carrie Bow Cay west, pillar under concrete dock, 0.5 m; K. Ruetzler col. 12 May 1978. USNM 1229116, Curlew Bank forereef cave, 20 m; C. Piantoni, col. 28 Jun 2007. USNM 1229117, Carrie Bow Cay South reef, lower surface of rock slab, 1 m; K. Ruetzler col. 13 Mar 2009. USNM 1229118, Carrie Bow Cay west, pillar under concrete dock, 0.5 m; K. Ruetzler, col. 18 Aug 2012.

External morphology. Cushions and creeping branches, which may divide and merge again; covering 2–80 cm 2 surface, 5–12 mm thick. Oscula circular, slightly raised, 2–4 mm in diameter. Surface rough to the touch, consistency tough, compressible but elastic. Color in life bluish or bluish to purplish gray.

Skeleton structure. In the ectosome there is an irregular meshwork of fibers cored by spicules, 30–150 µm thick. The choanosome is supported by similar fibers, the primaries ascending toward the surface reaching at least 250 µm diameter; they are interconnected by thinner secondary lines.

Spicules. Slender, curved oxeas with sharp points190–270 x 4–13 (239 x 8) Μm. Ecology. On reefs, open as well as cryptic, in locations of strong current flow; 0.5– 20 m. Distribution. Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.

Comments. No sigmas were found in our specimens.