Main Ref.	Vacelet, J., 1987
Appearance refers to

Sex attributes

specialized organs
different appearance
different colors
remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Diagnosis	Sponge: variable; generally massive; round, but being able equipped with regular lobes (especially at the large specimens); or with large conical lobes osculus. Surface equipped with many small conules regular. Osculus: 0.3 to 1 cm in diameter; often raised. Primary fibers: 0.005 to 0.01 cm diameter; very few formed at their end in the conules by the anastomoses of several fibers; and containing some foreign bodies. The secondary fibers: 0.002 with 0.0035 cm of diameter; in tightened network sometimes finest close to surface. Coloring: color varying of the a little yellowish white to the black according to illumination, whitish with color of rust inside
Ease of Identification	likely to be confused with closely related species.

Meristic characteristics of Spongia officinalis

Lateral Lines	Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No.	Dorsal
	Ventral
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral	Attributes
	spines
	soft-rays
Pelvics	Attributes
	Position
	spines
	soft-rays