Acanthella cubensis (Alcolado, 1984)

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

Acanthella cubensis (Alcolado, 1984)

Fig. 13

Diagnostic features.

Massive digitiform to lobate with lobes 2 cm wide. Orange, spongy. Surface slightly rugose to conulose. Oscula 4-7 mm wide, on top of lobes, with transparent membranes. Soft, compressible.

Similar species.

Ptilocaulis walpersii (with only oxeas), Ptilocaulis marquezi (with oxeas and styles), while Acanthella cubensis has styles in a wide size range, and sinuous strongyles.

Distribution and abundance.

Acanthella cubensis occurs on shallow coral reefs in Cuba, south Caribbean, Florida, and North Carolina. At FGBNMS the species is from rare to medium (1-100) in abundance at 12 sites. The species occurs also at mesophotic rock pavements in South Carolina, inside proposed Charleston shelf MPA at 54 m ( Díaz et al. 2021).

Ecology.

Coralline algae reefs, algal nodules, lower mesophotic reefs.

Identification.

CA, MCD.

Reference.

Alvarez et al. 1998.

Figures

Figure 13. Acanthella cubensis, 68 - 88 m deep. Samples DFH 9 - 14 A DFH 9 - 2 A, DFH 9 - 3 D.