Anne Frijsinger & Mat Vestjens, Holland
Info
(Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864)
In addition to the Caribbean, SeaLifeBase also lists the Indo-Pacific as a natural occurrence area, but does not provide any evidence or location data.
Cliona varians is quite common in coral reefs in the Caribbean and can cover areas of up to 2 meters in the course of its development.
As the name of the sponge suggests, it is very variable in its growth forms, growing in a crust-like, spherical or lobed shape.
Its oscula are relatively large, pale and slightly raised, its consistency can be friable or hard, the surface is smooth and non-porous and often partially covered by sediment.
Color: various shades of yellow, beige, green, dark green or brown, the interior of the sponge is pale yellowish to orange.
ID confirmed by Prof. Dr. Christine Schoenberg in July 2024!
Synonyms:
Anthosigmella varians (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864)
Cliona tuberculosus (Schmidt, 1870)
Papillina arcuata Topsent, 1889
Suberites coronarius Carter, 1882
Suberites tuberculosus Schmidt, 1870
Thalysias varians Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864
In addition to the Caribbean, SeaLifeBase also lists the Indo-Pacific as a natural occurrence area, but does not provide any evidence or location data.
Cliona varians is quite common in coral reefs in the Caribbean and can cover areas of up to 2 meters in the course of its development.
As the name of the sponge suggests, it is very variable in its growth forms, growing in a crust-like, spherical or lobed shape.
Its oscula are relatively large, pale and slightly raised, its consistency can be friable or hard, the surface is smooth and non-porous and often partially covered by sediment.
Color: various shades of yellow, beige, green, dark green or brown, the interior of the sponge is pale yellowish to orange.
ID confirmed by Prof. Dr. Christine Schoenberg in July 2024!
Synonyms:
Anthosigmella varians (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864)
Cliona tuberculosus (Schmidt, 1870)
Papillina arcuata Topsent, 1889
Suberites coronarius Carter, 1882
Suberites tuberculosus Schmidt, 1870
Thalysias varians Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864
