Ectyoplasia ferox (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864)
Brown encrusting octopus sponge
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Family:  Raspailiidae ()
Max. size: 
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 2 - 60 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic.
Diagnosis:  Growth forms varies from thick encrustations more than 1 cm thick, to irregular interconnected encrusting lobes, globular masses, fused groups of conical to chimney-like tubes, or irregular branches reaching 35 cm in height and 3 cm in width. Surface either smooth and finely porous with many fine perforations, or finely rugose. May also be slimy and corrugated out of water. Exterior is commonly orange-brown, but may also be yellow-orange, orange, yellowish-brown or red-orange. Yellow to cream interior. Firm and brittle consistency. Mucus exudate rare. Oscules flush or elevated on conical lobes or tubes with a yellow collar membrane, may be evenly spaced, scattered, or in rows that fuse together into low ridges. May be surrounded by fine radiating grooves (Ref. 85482).
Biology:  Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 128739.
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans: 
Country info:  Found in mesophotic reefs in Cuba (Ref. 128739). C: Ref. 128739.

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