Membranipora tenuis

(Common Sea Mat)

Size

Colony width:

Recognition Characters

Encrusting. Calcareous growth form creates lacy pattern on mollusk shells. Zooids elongate, rectangular, or quadrangular with membranous frontal surfaces. Under frontal membrane is calcareous shelf occupying proximal half of each zooid. Tip of zooid marked by 2 blunt tubercles. Polypide bears 10 tentacles.

Color

White

Habitat & Depth

Encrust shells and rocks. To 14m.

Distribution at GRNMS

Common. May be common on the shells of Pisania tincta.

Geographic Range

Massachusetts south to Brazil. Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico

Behavior & Notes

Synonyms

References

Maturo 1957