Orange Boring Sponge

Cliona vermifera Hancock

Cliona vermifera Hancock. 1867:259–240, pl. 8: fig. 2.—Toplent. 1889:35—Hechlel. 1965:60–61.

DESCRIPTION.—Ectosome: The papillae (Figures 11a, b) are usually of vivid orange-red color, light ocher in alcohol, or dry. In a few specimens they are dark brownish orange. Their shape is circular or oval, sometimes rather irregular. They are about 2 mm apart, with little tendency to fuse and measure 0.3 × 0.3 mm-1.5 × 2.5 mm, 1–1.5 mm for the majority. Oscula are under 1 mm in size, with a raised yellow-orange rim. Ostia can expand to 0.3 mm; their average size, however, is under 50 μm.

Choanosome: The large chambers are almost filled with fleshy, deep red, pale orange, or bright orange tissue that fades to light brown in alcohol or when dried. The same weakly staining, spheroid, a-granular cell type described for Cliona amplicavata is present here in large numbers (Figure 11g). They are particularly accumulated near the substratum walls of the chambers, in the diaphragm filling the chamber foramina, and also in strands leading through the choanosome. Choanocyte-chambers measure 28 μm. Large spaces devoid of cellular material can be noted in the center of the gallery chambers and to both sides of the foramina.

Excavations: The papillary perforations (Figure 11d) are very small and can easily be confused with those of Cliona lampa forma occulta: 0.3–1.8 mm (1.0 mm). However, there are well-developed papillary canals, 1.3–3.5 mm (2.0 m) long, and large chambers. The chambers (Figures 11c,e) are basically ovoid, the longer axis parallel to the substratum surface and with somewhat angular walls. Their size (length × width × height) is 2.7 × 2.7 × 1.0 mm-7.7 × 4.8 × 2.0 mm (4.8 × 3.5 × 1.4 mm). They are separated by walls of 0.3–1.9 mm. The walls are perforated by at least six large foramina, 0.3–1.1 mm (0.6 mm) in diameter. The galleries extend 20 mm into the substratum.

Spicules: Tylostyles in the papillae are placed perpendicular to the surface (Figure 11f). Elsewhere they are scattered or loosely organized into strands. There appear to be two size classes, one shorter and thicker than the other, but neither has a particular location and there are many transitional forms. The tylostyles (Figures 12a,b) are mostly straight; some are bent in the third behind the head. Frequently, they do not taper toward the point until the last fourth of their length. The heads are spheroid but mostly mucronate, occasionally subterminal. The raicroscleres (Figures 12a,c,d, 13) occur everywhere in the tissue but they are more abundant in the choanosome. They are smooth spiralled or undulated rods of uniform thickness throughout their length. The ends are rounded. These spicules are commonly called “smooth spirasters.”

Spicule dimensions (in μm): Tylostyles, length × width: 133.5–145.0 × 3.0–8.9 (242.4 × 5.7). Neck width: 1.1–7.1 (4.6). Head length × width: 5.6–11.8 × 1.8–13.7 (10.7 × 8.9). Spirasters (smooth), length × width: 16.0–76.8 × 1.0–4.8 (59.3 × 2.8). Number of bends: 0–9 (5.1).

MATERIAL.—USNM 24340; Station 9; 8 January 1970; in rock. USNM 24341; Station 13; 28 April 1971; in rock. USNM 24342; Station 18; 15 May 1971; in dead base of live coral (Mussa), dead Millepora, pelecypod shell. Station 5; 31 December 1969; in gastropod shell. Station 5; 12 January 1970; in pelecypod shell. Station 7; 6 January 1970; in rock. Station 10; 11 January 1970; in pelecypod shell. Station 10; 31 May 1972; in coralline incrusted rock. Station 11; 13 January 1970; in coralline incrusted coral rubble (Porites, Millepora). Station 12. 27 April 1971; in dead coralline incrusted coral. Station 15; 3 May 1971; in rock. Station 17; 9 June 1972. Station 18; 13 May 1971. Station 19; 7 June 1972.

DISTRIBUTION.—Tropical and subtropical Atlantic and Indo-Pacific.