Size

Colony height and width: commonly 3-5 cm (1-1.5"), reaching up to 8cm (3.5")

Recognition Characters

Hemispherical to subspherical in shape. Surface hispid with projecting spicules. Consistency of sponge is firm with ability to contract when touched. Yellow color frequently obscured by trapped sediments along surface. Large conspicuous oscules are regularly distributed around sponge. Spicules are (1) rare protriaenes (2) more common anatriaenes (3) abundant straight, fusiform oxeas (4) smaller oxeas, curved (5) sigmaspires.

Color

Yellow to grayish yellow

Habitat & Depth

Remain partially buried within sediments. Grow in areas of mixed sand and rocky substrate surrounding tropical and temperate reefs. To 40m depth.

Distribution at GRNMS

Common. Encountered on sandy bottoms away from ledges and rocky outcroppings. May be difficult to find because of sediments covering sponge.

Geographic Range

North Carolina south to Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, also Bermuda

Behavior & Notes

Smaller size, hispidation, and spiculation separates this sponge from C. kuekenthali. This species is also very abundant at GRNMS.

Synonyms

Cinachyra alloclada

References

Wells et al. 1960, Sterrer 1986