Ircinia 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 campana (Lamarck, 1814)

Fig. 57

Diagnostic features.

Flabellate to fan- or cup-shaped, sometimes pedunculated. Brown, gray, pinkish, or white color in life. The surface is regularly conulose and rugose. Abundant round oscula (4-8 mm) on the inner wall surface.

Similar species.

This might be a different species from the shallow reef species, but close genetic and morphological comparison must be carried out to distinguish Ircinia species ( Kelly and Thacker 2021).

Distribution and abundance.

Widespread throughout the Caribbean at shallow coral reefs and seagrass meadows. This is the first report of the species for the northwestern GOM and at mesophotic depths in the GOM. At FGBNMS, low (1-10) in abundance and only documented at Stetson Bank. Díaz et al. 2021 report this species' morphotype at mesophotic depths (50-79 m) in various MPA's from North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.

Ecology.

Lower mesophotic reefs, coralline algae reefs.

Identification.

MCD.

Reference.

Díaz et al. 2019.

Figures

Figure 57. Ircinia campana, 56 m deep. Photo code SP 10.