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Giant barrel sponge
Xestospongia muta
(Schmidt, 1870)
Code
Summary
Huge barrel-shape with rough, often jagged, stone-hard exterior. Shades
of gray, brown or red-brown. Generally solitary, but one or two smaller
individuals occasionally grow around base.
To be confused with
- Netted barrel sponge Verongula gigantea (exterior has distinctive, raised, netlike texture ans appears rubbery).
Characteristics
Size: Large barrels, 60 to 180 cm high.
Colour: Brownish-red to brownish-gray.
Shape: Barrel-shaped with exterior grooves or rims.
Consistency: Hard.
Habitat environment and ecology
Tropical reef. Inhabits mid-range to deep coral reefs and muddy sand
bottoms in deeper water. Especially in deeper localities, the specimens
are small and display a cone shape form.
Distribution range
BES-eilanden: Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius
Author
[Niels Schrieken, april 2015]; [Floris Bennema, april 2016]
Literature
- Humann, P., & DeLoach, N. (2002). Reef C
reature Identification:
Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas (p. 420). Jacksonville (FL): New World
Publications. - Interactive Guide to Caribbean Diving. M. De Kluijver, G. Gijswijt, R. de Leon & I. da Cunda.
- The Sponge Guide. S. Zea, Henkel, T.P., and Pawlik, J.R. 2014.
- Thacker,
R. W., Díaz, M. C., De Voogd, N. J., Van Soest, R. W., Freeman, C. J.,
Mobley, A. S., ... & McKenna, S. (2010). Preliminary assessment of
sponge biodiversity on Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles. PloS one, 5(5),
e9622.
- Sponges Saba Bank
Categorieën:
Soorten,
Sponzen
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