Main Ref.	Zea, S., T.P. Henkel and J.R. Pawlik, 2009
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	Thick encrustations that may cover several square meters substratum. Oscules are relatively large, paler and slightly elevated. May be crumbly or tough (Ref. 81728). Grows either irregularly massive, hemispheric, globular, or partly divided into irregular lobes. Encrusting patches cover 1 to 2 m in a round or semi-circular pattern. Smooth and non-porous surface with typical irregular bumps or lobes, often partly covered by sediment. Color: variously yellow, tan, green or brown. Thin encrustations may be dark green. Internally pale yellowish, with a dark brown hemispheric form with an orange interior. Spongin fibers absent. Presence of small anthosigma spicules is a unique and diagnostic characteristic (Ref. 85482).
Ease of Identification	likely to be confused with closely related species.

Meristic characteristics of Cliona varians

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