Description

Description of the species: Groups of low tubes averaging 7 cm height and 2.5 cm in diameter, anastomosed, with irregular outlines (often lobate), frequently wider at their apices, where oscula 1 cm in diameter occur (Fig. 9 A). The largest specimen is 11.5 cm long, 7 cm in maximum height and 4 cm in maximum width. Surface quite smooth alive, becoming markedly conulose upon preservation (Fig. 10 A – B). Colour in vivo golden yellow (MNRJ 4175 and MNRJ 4176) or brown (MNRJ 5463), turning black after preservation in ethanol. Consistency is very soft. Skeleton: Choanosome with a delicate and irregular network of spongin fibers (Fig. 10 C). Bark with amber colour, 35 – 125 Μm wide (average 75 Μm). Thick pith, black or amber, 12 – 37 Μm wide (average 23 Μm; Fig. 10 D). TABLE V: Spongin fibres’ measurement data for Aplysina insularis (in micrometers; S. D. = Standard Deviation and N = 30). * BA, Bahia State.

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Porifera

Class: Demospongiae

Order: Verongiida

Family: Aplysinidae

Genus: Aplysina

Species: Aplysina insularis (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864)