Topsentia ophiraphidites

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 : 76

Topsentia ophiraphidites (de Laubenfels, 1934)

Synonymy and references. Topsentia ophiraphidites (de Laubenfels, 1934): Diaz, van Soest & Pomponi, 1993: 290, figs. 6, 12..

Material. SNM 1229093, Carrie Bow Cay south back reef, Acropora palmata coral plate in exposed zone behind reef crest, 1 m; K. Ruetzler col. 6 Mar 2006. USNM 1229094, Curlew Bank forereef cave, 20 m; C. Piantoni col. 28 Jun 2007. USNM 1229095, Curlew Bank forereef cave, 20 m; C. Piantoni col. 29 Jun 2007.

External morphology. Small cushion to conical projection with lobate extensions, 35 mm long, 15 mm diameter. Lumpy surface, hard consistency. Color gray to purplish pink..

Skeleton structure. Large spicules in dense but confused-radial arrangement, smaller spicules in between but in highest concentration near the sponge surface.

Spicules. Fusiform, curved oxeas, some with styloid modifications, in great size range. Three size classes can be distinguished, but separation is not always easy because there are many transitions; the smallest kind often shows angular bends (kinks) or is wavy; I: 650–1050 x 17–35 (822 x 22) Μm; II: 420–580 x 8–20 (504 x 12) Μm; III: 190–360 x 4–9 (289 x 7) Μm.

Ecology. Occurs under shallow coral rubble and in forereef caves, 1–20 m; elsewhere reported from 40 m and below.

Distribution. Caribbean and off northeastern Brazil.