Aplysina ocracea Alcolado, 1984

Rützler, Klaus, Piantoni, Carla, Van, Rob W. M. & Díaz, Cristina, 2014, Diversity of sponges (Porifera) from cryptic habitats on the Belize barrier reef near Carrie Bow Cay, Zootaxa 3805 (1), pp. 1-129 : 98

Aplysina ocracea Alcolado, 1984

Synonymy and references. Aplysina ocracea Alcolado, 1984: 2 , fig. 1A.

Material. USNM 1191348, Carrie Bow forereef, spur & groove zone cave, 8–10 m; crevice entrance. K. Ruetzler col. 11 May 1975. USNM 1229148, Curlew Bank forereef slope (wall), framework cave, 18 m; C. Piantoni & M. Parrish, col. 25 Aug 2012.

External morphology. The sponge grows in cushion-shape, 30 x 20 x 12 mm (thick) to 70 x 30 x 20 mm. There are individual oscula, 1–2 mm, or one large atrial opening of about 10 mm diameter, into which lead 4 canals of 2–4 mm. The surface is finely conulose, with conules that are less than 0.5 mm tall and less than 1 mm distant from each other. The color is rich ochre, with a luminescent purple hue over the surface; it barely changes after conservation in alcohol.

Skeleton. The skeleton fibers are amber, as typical in the genus, 50–145 (97) Μm in diameter, with the pith occupying on average 24 % of the width.

Ecology. Found under coral slabs and inside the entrance of small reef caves under semi-obscure conditions; 8– 30 m.

Distribution. Described originally from Cuba, this is the first record from Belize.

Comments. The most distinctive features of this species are the finely conulose surface and ochre color that does not change during fixation.