Theonella cf. swinhoei Gray, 1868

Fassbender, Nico, Stefanoudis, Paris V, Filander, Zoleka Nontlantla, Gendron, Gilberte, Mah, Christopher L, Mattio, Lydiane, Mortimer, Jeanne A, Moura, Carlos J, Samaai, Toufiek, Samimi-Namin, Kaveh, Wagner, Daniel, Walton, Rowana & Woodall, Lucy C, 2021, Reef benthos of Seychelles - A field guide, Biodiversity Data Journal 9, pp. 65970-65970 : 65970

Theonella cf. swinhoei Gray, 1868

Materials

Type status: Other material. Taxon: scientificName: Theonella cf. swinhoei; kingdom: Animalia; phylum: Porifera; class: Demospongiae; order: Tetractinellida; family: Theonellidae; genus: Theonella; scientificNameAuthorship: Gray, 1868; Location: waterBody: Indian Ocean; country: Seychelles; locality: Aldabra N 1, Aldabra W 1, Alphonse N 1, Astove W 1, Desroches S 1 ; minimumDepthInMeters: 10 m; maximumDepthInMeters: 72 m; locationRemarks: First Descent : Seychelles Expedition ; Identification : identifiedBy: Nico Fassbender , Toufiek Samaai , Paris Stefanoudis ; dateIdentified: 2019, 2020; identificationRemarks: identified only from imagery; Event : samplingProtocol: Submersible OR Remotely Operated Vehicle OR SCUBA; Record Level: basisOfRecord: Human observation

Notes

Tube-shaped sponge with tubes growing in a cluster that originates from a broad base. Maximum recorded size: 40 cm across. Conspicuous oscules at the terminal end of slightly tapered tubes. Smooth, velvety surface. Maroon-brown to dark brown colouration. Can be confused with Theonella sp. 2, which lacks prominent tubes, appears more encrusting and is brick-red (Fig. 175).