Porifera
Cliona celata
(Yellow Boring Sponge)
1. In situ (Greg McFall)
2. In situ (Greg McFall)
3. In situ (Rob Ruzicka)
4. In situ (Rob Ruzicka)
5. In situ - close up oscules (Rob Ruzicka)
6. In situ - shows interior of sponge (Rob Ruzicka)
7. In situ - shows massive growth form (Rob Ruzicka)
8. In situ - shows massive growth form (Rob Ruzicka)
9. In situ - Sponge is surrounding Ircinia campana (Greg McFall)
10. Out of Water (Rob Ruzicka)
11. Out of Water - Picture shows interior of sponge (Rob Ruzicka)
Size
Colony height: reaching 90cm (36") Colony width: reaching 50cm (20")
Recognition Characters
This is a large and conspicuous sponge that occurs throughout the Western Atlantic. Often it can be encrusting, boring into limestone and other calcareous substrata (e.g. shells). The boring stage is often seen as clear sulphur lemon lobes, which are the rounded tips of papillae in the rock. The raphyrus stage can form massive colonies with rounded ridges. The surface of this form is evenly covered by tuberculate inhalant papillae. Large oscules with raised rims are found along the tops of the ridges. This sponge embeds rocks and sediments into its tissue. Spicules are tylostyles.
Color
Exterior bright yellow to creamy yellow. Interior is yellowish-orangish flecked with dark splotches of excavated sediment.
Habitat & Depth
Temperate reefs to 50m. Also mixed sandy and hard bottom surrounding reefs.
Distribution at GRNMS
Occasional at GRNMS. More common at deeper reefs. Can be found in its boring stage along scarps of ledges.
Geographic Range
Western Atlantic north to Great Britain
Behavior & Notes
Synonyms
Wells et al. 1960