Spongia (Spongia) pertusa Hyatt, 1877 Dictyoceratida, Spongiidae Common names: Anclote Sponge Growth Form: Massive amorphous or cushions; upper surface usually with hillocks, low lobes, ridges and valleys; up to 20 cm high, 30 cm across. Surface: Finely conulose to almost smooth, non-porous. Color: Black outside, cream or light tan inside. Color becomes paler in alcohol. Consistency: Spongy, compressible. Exudate: None. Oscules: Round, scattered or on top of lobes, ridges and elevations, when present; 0.4-1 cm across. Skeletal components (Spicules, fibers): Spongin fibers only, no proper spicules. Spongin orange, not laminated. Most fibers simple, up to 45 μm across. Slightly thicker fibers (55 μm) arise at intervals of up to 0.7 mm and may have a usually sparse core of sand grains and broken spicules. Skeletal Architecture: Fibers form an irregular meshwork, with meshes of variable size and shape, 100-600 μm in diameter. Ecology: Common in lagoons and shallow bays. Distribution: South Florida and throughout the Caribbean to at least 35 m. Notes: Difficult to distinguish from other local Spongia species. The hillocky-lobate upper surface and finely conulose surface are diagnostic, but individuals may lack lobes and/or conules. Two other local species are also black. Spongia tubulifera has a similar habit but with thin-walled, tube-like oscules and slightly coarser fibers and meshes. Spongia obscura tends to be inverted conical, with oscules concentrated on a flattened top. Three other species: cup-shaped S. tampa, globular S. barbara, and deeply grooved S. graminea, have not been verified in South Florida waters for decades. All Spongia species are much more compressible (“spongy”) than other local massive black or dark species, such as Spheciospongia vesparium, Ircinia strobilina, Aaptos pernucleata, Tectitethya keyensis and Geodia gibberosa. Reference(s): de Laubenfels & Storr (1958, as Spongia anclotea); van Soest (1984), Zea (1987). Similar species: Aaptos pernucleata Geodia gibberosa Ircinia strobilina Spheciospongia vesparium Spongia obscura