Porifera
Geodia gibberosa
(White Enrusting Sponge)
Size
Colony height: 5cm (2") Colony width: reaching 10cm (4")
Recognition Characters
Sponge is encrusting with a tendency to become lobate or round in form. Sponge division of outer cortex and inner choanosome is easily apparent. Outer cortex is smooth, thin, strong, firm, and incompressible. Inner choanosome is fibrous and softer than outer cortex. Sponges in the Geodia genus contain sterraster spicules and shafted triaenes. At least for the purple (cryptic) specimen, the ectosome was sticky.
Color
White, yellow, or purple with meshlike ectosome.
Habitat & Depth
Widely distributed throughout many habitats. Encrust underside of ledges, rocky outcroppings, crevices, and coral reefs to 50m.
Distribution at GRNMS
Rare. This sponge is cryptic in its distribution at GRNMS. It prefers to grow in recesses, cracks and underneath ledges.
Geographic Range
Caribbean, Florida to North Carolina
Behavior & Notes
Synonyms
Wiedenmayer 1977