Euryspongia raouchensis Vacelet, Bitar, Carteron, Zibrowius and Perez, 2007 Fig. 12

Euryspongia raouchensis Vacelet, Bitar, Carteron, Zibrowius & Perez, 2007: 1548

Description.

Growth form encrusting (6 × 4 cm, ca. 3-5 mm thick). Surface covered of small conules (0.8-1.2 mm apart) each with a slightly protruding fibre. Ectosome unarmoured. Oscules (0.8-1 mm in diameter) numerous, circular and irregularly scattered. Colour cream in vivo with the tips of conules whitish, clear brown in alcohol. Consistency fleshy, easily torn. Choanocyte chambers of the dysideid type, numerous, large (75-90 µm in diameter). Skeleton primary fibres heavily cored (125-150 µm in diameter), ascending singly from substratum to surface, rather regularly spaced, ending as conules. Secondary fibres (40-70 µm in diameter) generally clear of inclusions can have a poorly developed central core of foreign material.

Habitat.

Cave. Exclusively known from Raouché cave, along the Lebanese coast (Eastern Mediterranean Sea). Bathymetric distribution 2-5 m.

Mediterranean caves.

Raouché Cave (Levantine Basin) (Vacelet et al. 2007; Pronzato and Manconi 2011).