A guide to the deep-water sponges of - NMFS Scientific Publications ...

126 Professional Paper NMFS 12
105. Cladocroce ventilabrum (Fristedt, 1887)
Description. Two growth forms exist: 1) massive to
hemispherical, and 2) fan-shaped and stalked. The fan
may be thin-bladed or form an ovoid tube with a large
osculum on top. The surface is irregularly corrugated
with crater-like oscula. Both growth forms narrow somewhat
to a basal attachment or short stalk. Consistency
is soft, elastic, and easily torn. Size is to 10 cm × 10 cm.
Color in life is reddish brown or golden brown.
Skeletal structure. There is an ectosomal unispicular
reticulation of tangentially arranged oxeas (160–180 ×
5–12 µm). Where oxeas are connected, one to four are
arranged perpendicular to the surface. There is a choanosomal
unispicular reticulation; in places paucispicular
tracts are connected by single spicules.
Zoogeographic distribution. Widespread but uncommon.
In Alaska – central Aleutian Islands. Elsewhere
– North Pacific Ocean (Sea of Japan), Arctic Ocean
(Barents Sea and Greenland Sea), and North Atlantic
Ocean (Davis Strait).
Habitat. In Alaska – attached to cobbles, pebbles,
and bivalve shells at depths between 155 and 235 m.
Elsewhere – reported at depths between 40 and 718 m.
Photos. 1) Specimen collected at a depth of 190 m
in the central Aleutian Islands. Grid marks are 1 cm 2 .
2) Same specimen as in photo 1 (center) in situ.
3) Specimen attached to a scallop shell (Chlamys sp.)
collected at a depth of 155 m in the central Aleutian
Islands. Grid marks are 1 cm 2 . 4) Specimen attached
to a pebble collected at a depth of 155 m in the central
Aleutian Islands. Grid marks are 1 cm 2 .