| Family: |
Spongiidae () |
| Max. size: |
30 cm WD (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
sessile; marine; depth range 5 - 80 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Central Atlantic and the Mediterranean. |
| Diagnosis: |
Massive sponge; on surface equipped with conules very irregularly dispersed. A thin and generally smooth ectosome covers the surface gaps. Sponge: traversed great gaps méandriformes. Rare primary fibers: 0.0060 to 0.01 cm diameter; formed by the anastomoses of several fibers at their end in the conules; and containing foreign bodies. Secondary fibers: 0.0025 to 0.003 cm diameter. Coloring: darkish gray with yellowish on the surface, often brown white orange inside (Ref. 363). |
| Biology: |
Importance: It is the principal species currently exploited. The essence of the production comes from Tunisia. It is used for the domestic uses, the toilet and certain industries (Ref. 363). Common between 5 and 30 m of depth, would go down up to 80 m to Libya (Ref. 363). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
| Country info: |
|
Source and more info: www.sealifebase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
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