Description

Description of the species: The specimens besrs centrally anastomosed lamellas, giving the sponge a form which reminds the root buttresses of large tropical canopy trees (Figs. 17 A, 18 A – B). Some lamellas possess ridges and holes longitudinaly extending themselves from the base to the top, in only one of the sides. Small oscula (0.1 cm wide) are spread on all sides. The surface is finely conulose, with small depressions. The colour is yellowish-brown in vivo, turning purple after preservation in ethanol. Consistency is very soft and flexible. Skeleton: Choanosome with a delicate and irregular network of spongin fibers (Fig. 18 C). Bark with amber colour and thickness of 37 – 155 Μm (average 74 Μm). Thick pith can be black or amber with thickness of 7 – 35 Μm (average 19 Μm; Fig. 18 D).

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Porifera

Class: Demospongiae

Order: Verongiida

Family: Aplysinidae

Genus: Aplysina

Species: Aplysina lactuca Pinheiro, Hajdu & Custódio, 2007