Description

Description Laterally compressed lamellar form, resembling an axe with maximum dimensions of 7 cm in length, 5.8 cm in width and 0.8 cm in thickness, with a very narrow base (Fig. 13 A). The oscula are located marginally in the sponge (Fig. 13 B). The surface is slightly / finely conulose. Colour after preservation in alcohol is reddishbrown. Consistency is compressible and elastic. Skeleton: Choanosome formed by an irregular polygonal reticulation of spongin fibers (Fig. 13 C), with amber coloured bark and thickness of 42 – 95 Μm (average 69 Μm). The pith can be black or amber, 12 – 30 Μm (average 19 Μm, Fig. 13 D).

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Porifera

Class: Demospongiae

Order: Verongiida

Family: Aplysinidae

Genus: Aplysina

Species: Aplysina pergamentacea Hechtel, 1983