Stylissa stipitata de Laubenfels, 1961

Common name(s): Trumpet sponge
Synonyms:
Phylum Porifera
 Class Demospongiae
  Order Axinellida
   Family Axinellidae
Stylissa stipitata from about 10 m depth, Northwest Island, Rosario Bay, WA.  The right (top) end is a large, open osculum.
(Photo by: Dave Cowles, July 2006)
Description:  This sponge is shaped like a tall and narrow funnel (sometimes shaped like a tube or bifurcated), with a narrow stalk that comprises at least 1/4 its height.  Its upper end is a large osculum that opens into a large atrium.  The surface is smooth. Color cream to orange-brown.  Styles to subtylostyles 200-450 microns long, shorter in the stalk.

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: Phakettia close to beringensis has a rugose (rough) surface and may have larger styles.  Mycale adhaerens may grow tall and fingerlike in shape but without the large osculum and atrium.

Geographical Range:

Depth Range:  Subtidal

Habitat:  Attached to rocks

Biology/Natural History:  The nudibranch Archidoris odhneri feeds on Stylissa, as well as on other sponges.


 
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References:

Dichotomous Keys:
  Kozloff 1987, 1996
 
 
 

General References:
 

Scientific Articles:

Alvarez, Belinda, Crisp, MichaeL. D., Driver, Felice, Hooper, John N. A. & Van Soest, RoB. W. M., 2000.  Phylogenetic relationships of the family Axinellidae (Porifera: Demospongiae) using morphological and molecular data.  Zoologica Scripta 29:22, pp. 169-198.
 

Erpenbeck, D.; Breeuwer, J. A. J.; Soest, R. W. M., 2005.  Implications from a 28S rRNA gene fragment for the phylogenetic relationships of halichondrid sponges (Porifera: Demospongiae).  Journal of Zoological Systematics & Evolutionary Research 43:2 pp. 93-99

Green, G., 1977.  Ecology of toxicity in marine sponges.  Marine Biology 40:3 pp. 207-215
 

Web sites:
 


General Notes and Observations:  Locations, abundances, unusual behaviors:



A style (spicule) from Stylissa stipitata.  Photo by Brooke Reiswig, July 2006


Authors and Editors of Page:
Dave Cowles (2006):  Created original page