Chondrosia collectrix (Schmidt, 1870)

Fig. 46

Diagnostic features.

Thick encrusting (1-3 cm in thickness) to lobate, brown, black to tan in color externally with darker spotted areas, tan internally. Smooth surface, and round oscula, with elevated membranes. This species has very cartilaginous consistency.

Similar species.

Chondrilla caribensis is very similar in growth form and color but it lacks oscula with a collared membrane and possesses typical and abundant spheraster spicules.

Distribution and abundance.

The species is distributed at coral reefs, seagrasses, and/or mangroves in Florida, Bermuda, throughout the Caribbean, Brazil, and southern Gulf of Mexico. At FGBNMS is widely distributed with low to high abundance (10-100+) occurring at 12 sites.

Ecology.

Inhabits lower mesophotic reef and heavily silted reef, coralline algae reef, algal nodules.

Identification.

KR, CA, SWK, MCD.

Reference.

Wiedenmayer 1977.