Description

Description HABITUS. Encrusting sponge about 5 cm long and 1.5 cm thick, with regular conulose surface. Colour in life bright yellow (Fig. 15 A). Live specimens soft, very fragile, showing numerous oscula with low rim (Fig. 15 A). Ostia also visible on sponge surface (Fig. 15 A) SKELETON. Structure typical of Darwinella genus with ascending dendritic fibres supporting surface conules. Several dendritic fibres arise from common basal plate. Red dendritic fibres laminated, linear and sinuous, 14 – (15) – 16 mm long and 70 – (80) – 90 μm thick, with opaque core (Fig. 15 B); axial core 10 – (11) – 12 μm thick. SPICULES. Smooth, straight, slightly curved or sinuous horny styles, with visible axial core (Fig. 15 C), 87.5 – (436) – 830 μm long and 9 – (12.5) – 16 μm thick; axial core 2.5 – (8.3) – 13 μm thick. Habitat Species lives at a depth of 15 m in a shady area on rocky wall.

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Porifera

Class: Demospongiae

Order: Dendroceratida

Family: Darwinellidae

Genus: Darwinella

Species: Darwinella pronzatoi Bertolino, Costa & Pansini, 2020