Igernella notabilis

Size

Colony height: reaching 8cm (3") Colony width: 13cm (5")

Recognition Characters

Growth form is irregularly lobate cylinder and mound-shaped. Small (0.5mm) conules or tubercles are evenly distributed throughout surface. Large circular oscules elevated in mounds are conspicuous. Spicules are slightly curved styles and oxeas. Not abundant.

Color

Bright red or pink

Habitat & Depth

Tropical and temperate reefs and artificial structures or wrecks to 70m depth.

Distribution at GRNMS

Rare at GRNMS. More common closer to sites near Gulf Stream. Attaches to reefs and grows on vertical structures (Navy towers) and wrecks.

Geographic Range

North Carolina south to Brazil. Common in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico

Behavior & Notes

This sponge has been previously classified under multiple names.

Synonyms

References

Wells et al. 1960, Alvarez et al. 1998