Main Ref.	Vacelet, J., 1987
Appearance refers to

Sex attributes

specialized organs
different appearance
different colors
remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Diagnosis	Maximum size: seldom exceed 15 to 20 cm in diameter. Massive sponge; generally with lobes short and round-offs; finished by a osculus a few mm in diameter and laterally traversed by radiant; visible surface channels under ectosome. Surface small and regular glazes of conules. Primary: 0.004 to 0.006 cm diameter; well individualized fibers; equipped with a sinuous marrow occupying approximately one the third of fiber; generally deprived of foreign bodies (sometimes with some rare spicules foreign). Secondary fibers: 0.0022 to 0.0035 cm diameter; in dense network, with often a surface finer fiber network (0.0004 to 0.001 cm). Color: yellowish white, often rust inside.
Ease of Identification	likely to be confused with closely related species.

Meristic characteristics of Spongia nitens

Lateral Lines	Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No.	Dorsal
	Ventral
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral	Attributes
	spines
	soft-rays
Pelvics	Attributes
	Position
	spines
	soft-rays