Description

Description of the species: The specimens have a predominantly lamellar form, with moderately stout lamellae (frequently ca. 1 cm thick) in a semi-radial arrangement, but digitiform processes anastomosed to the main lamella can also be observed. They have a maximum of 11 cm in height and 7 cm in width. In the apex of the lamellae there are several short, slender digitiform projections up to 0.4 cm in height, frequently in tufts, that are released from the sponge after preservation in alcohol (Figs. 23 D – E, 25 A – B). The small oscula of 0.15 cm in diameter are normally restricted to the upper part of the lamella on top of small volcaniform projections, but oscula of this type in the sides of the sponge are not rare. The surface is finely conulose, with small, irregular and shallow depressions. The colour is yellow or yellow with purple stains in vivo, turning pinkish-brown or dark-brown after preservation in ethanol. Consistency is very soft. Skeleton: Choanosome with a delicate and irregular network of spongin fibers (Fig. 25 C) with amber coloured bark 37 – 158 Μm thick (average 77 Μm) and a thick pith that can be black or amber and is 11 – 55 Μm thick (average 24 Μm; Fig. 25 D).

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Porifera

Class: Demospongiae

Order: Verongiida

Family: Aplysinidae

Genus: Aplysina

Species: Aplysina solangeae Pinheiro, Hajdu & Custódio, 2007