Stellettinopsis cf. megastylifera (Wintermann-Kilian & Kilian, 1984)

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

Stellettinopsis cf. megastylifera (Wintermann-Kilian & Kilian, 1984)

Fig. 38

Diagnostic features.

Round to massive sponge. Brownish gray to dirty white in color. The surface is prickly, hispid, feels like sandpaper; numerous holes ≤ 3-5 mm in diameter in sponge body. Few larger oscula 1-4 cm wide. Hard and dense in consistency. Species identity requires further analysis and comparative work ( Sandes et al. 2020).

Distribution and abundance.

The species is reported from shallow depths growing on coral reefs, rocks, sand, or mangroves (3-25 m deep) in the Colombian Caribbean, Curacao, Panama, Belize, southern GOM, and Dominican Republic. Rare species. This is the first report of this species for the north GOM mesophotic. At FGBNMS, moderate abundance at three sites.

Ecology.

Coralline algae reefs, algal nodules.

Identification.

SWK, CA, KR.

References.

Sandes et al. 2020; Wintermann-Kilian and Kilian 1984.

Figures

Figure 38. Stellettinopsis cf. megastylifera, 76 m deep. Samples DFH 9 - 13 C.