Clathrina cancellata

(Verrill, 1873)

Species Overview

Clathrina cancellata (Verrill, 1873) is a tightly anastomosed mass of tubes which is pear-shaped or hemispherical. The colour of this calcareous is whitish to yellowish. It can only be distinguished from other Clathrina species on spicule characteristics (microscopic examination). It was originally described from the New England coast but subsequently recorded from Roscoff.

Taxonomic Description

Colour: Yellowish white to brownish yellow.
Shape, size, surface and consistency: A mass of tightly anastomosed tubes with diameter 0.5-1 mm, forming irregular, pyriform, hemispherical or subglobular small sponges of 1-2 cm diameter. Surface smooth. Oscules few, scattered. Consistency fragile.
Spicules: Calcareous. Triactines slightly sagittal, with paired rays: 110 x 9 µm, unpaired rays: 130 x 9 µm; tetractines slightly sagittal, paired rays: 104 x 9 µm, unpaired rays: 124 x 9 µm, apical rays: 90 x 6 µm.
Skeleton: Asconoid organization. Tube walls made up of triactines and tetractines.
Reproduction: August.
Ecology: On rocks in the Axinella zone; 18-110 m.
Distribution: Roscoff, Arctic, NW Atlantic (New England, E Canada).
Etymology: Cancellatus (Latin) = latticed or cross-barred, referring to the anastomosed tubes.
Type specimen information: No data.

Remarks

The inclusion of this species in this file is based on Borojevic et al.'s (1968) record of it from Roscoff. It is very similar to Clathrina cerebrum but that species has the apical ray of the tetractines spined.
Source: Burton, 1963.