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

62 Professional Paper NMFS 12
46. Clathria (Clathria) laevigata Lambe, 1893
Description. This sponge is massive, laterally compressed,
and irregularly lobate. Consistency is soft and
fragile with round, slightly elevated oscula. Diameter is
to 30 cm. Color in life is golden brown. The ectosomal
membrane may have a greyish tinge.
Skeletal structure. Structure includes ectosomal
smooth small styles (230–290 × 6–10 µm); choanosomal
smooth styles (440–560 × 20–30 µm) occasionally with
acanthose heads; and small acanthostyles (90–240 ×
8–12 µm). Microscleres are palmate isochelae (20–25
µm) and toxas (200–530 µm).
Zoogeographic distribution. Locally common in
North Pacific Ocean. In Alaska – central Aleutian Islands.
Elsewhere – known from Kuril Strait (Russia) and
near Vancouver Island (Canada).
Habitat. In Alaska – attached to cobbles and pebbles
at a depth of 167 m. Elsewhere – reported at depths
between 72 and 138 m.
Photos. 1) Fragment of a specimen collected at a
depth of 167 m in the central Aleutian Islands. Grid
marks are 1 cm 2 . 2) Same specimen as in photo 1 (indicated
by the white arrow) in situ.