Aplysilla aff. sulfurea Schulze, 1878

Diaz, Maria Cristina, Nuttall, Marissa, Pomponi, Shirley A., Ruetzler, Klaus, Klontz, Sarah, Adams, Christi, Hickerson, Emma L. & Schmahl, G. P., 2023, An annotated and illustrated identification guide to common mesophotic reef sponges (Porifera, Demospongiae, Hexactinellida, and Homoscleromorpha) inhabiting Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and vicinities, ZooKeys 1161, pp. 1-68 : 1

Aplysilla aff. sulfurea Schulze, 1878

Fig. 53

Diagnostic features.

Thin encrusting sponge, 1-2 mm when preserved in alcohol. Pale yellow/orange in color alive. In alcohol it turns dark purple. In life the surface bears low conules, and oscula a few mm wide.

Similar species.

The overall growth form, color, and color change in alcohol is similar to those in Aplysilla sulfurea .

Distribution and abundance.

Aplysilla sulfurea is the type species for the genus and was described from the Adriatic and Mediterranean seas and eastern Atlantic. The reports from Bermuda, Florida, and southern Africa probably represent different species of similar habit and color. At FGBNMS the species is widely distributed at 14 sites with a range of abundance from rare to medium (2-100).

Ecology.

Coralline algae reefs, lower mesophotic reefs, algal nodules.

Identification.

CA, MCD.

References.

de Laubenfels 1950, 1953.

Figures

Figure 53. Aplysilla aff. Aplysilla sulfurea, 78 m deep. Samples DFH 9 - 14 B.