Ircinia cf. campana (Lamarck, 1814)

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

Ircinia cf. campana (Lamarck, 1814)

Fig. 58

Diagnostic features.

Flabellate to fan. Brown, gray, to pinkish in color. The surface is regularly conulose. Abundant round oscula (2-3 mm) on the upper surface, sometimes clumped. The cf. is to highlight the uncommon plate-shape habitus for the species, indicating that this morphotype could represent either a different species or a variant of Ircinia campana . Further genetic and morphologic comparisons are required.

Distribution and abundance.

Widespread throughout the Caribbean on shallow coral reefs and seagrass meadows. This is the first report of the species for the northwestern GOM and at mesophotic depths. Single specimen found at one locality.

Ecology.

Coralline algal reefs.

Identification.

MCD.

References.

van Soest 1978; Díaz et al. 2019.

Figures

Figure 58. Ircinia cf. campana, 55 m deep. Sample DFH 9 - 8 A.