Ircinia strobilina (Lamarck,1816)

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 strobilina (Lamarck,1816)

Fig. 59

Diagnostic features.

The sponge is sub-globular to massive and cake-shaped, gray to black color in life. Large specimens show an upper depression where oscula abound. The surface has characteristic large conules (2-15 mm high, 5-15 mm apart). Oscula 4-10 mm in diameter, either single or in groups, with a thin membrane. The specimens are tough in consistency.

Distribution and abundance.

Widespread throughout the Caribbean, Bermuda, GOM, and Brazil. The species has been previously reported in the northern and southern GOM ( de Laubenfels 1936; Green et al. 1986; Gómez 2007). This species is a common inhabitant of coral reefs in the southern GOM ( Ugalde et al. 2021). At FGBNMS the species is abundant at Stetson and Sonnier banks.

Ecology.

Coral communities, coralline algae reefs, lower mesophotic reefs.

Id.

MCD.

Reference.

van Soest 1978.

Figures

Figure 59. Ircinia strobilina, 50 m deep. Photocode SP 09.