Grantia canadensis

Lambe, 1896

Species Overview

Grantia canadensis Lambe, 1896 is a pale reddish brown, solitary tube-shaped calcareous sponge. Its terminal oscule has a minimal fringe. Consistency is firm but fragile. It is a West Atlantic sponge recorded also from the west coast of France.

Taxonomic Description

Colour: Live colour not recorded. Pale reddish brown in alcohol.
Shape, size, surface and consistency: Solitary tubes of ca. 1 cm high and a few mm in diameter. There is a short stalk. Terminal oscule provided with a very short fringe. Surface slightly hispid. Consistency firm, compact.
Spicules: Calcareous. Ectosomal triactines sagittal: paired rays 200 µm, basal ray up to 300 µm; tubar triactines similar to ectosomal triactines; tetractines sagittal, similar to triactines but with apical rays 26-65 x 6-13 µm; oxeas: 700 x 13 µm.
Skeleton: Ectosomal : a tangential layer of triactines with oxeas projecting beyond the surface. Choanosomal : tubar skeleton of triactines and an atrial skeleton consisting of a layer of tetractines.
Ecology: Deep water, 35-80 m, or in caves.
Distribution: Roscoff, Iles de Glénan, Gulf of St Lawrence.
Type specimen information: The type is in the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto.

Remarks

This is a species from the Atlantic coast of Canada, recorded twice from the west coast of France.
Source: Burton, 1963.