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Batzella rubra is a thin, encrusting sponge that grows over dead coral or other sponges.
When alive, it is deep orange to bright red in color.
The surface is smooth and decorated with brightly colored cutaneous canals that branch away from the oscula, are broad near the oscula, and taper away from it.
The consistency of this marine sponge is compressible where the sponge is thicker.
The sponge can be confused with other red encrusting species, but the peculiar "dripping" morphology of the cutaneous canals makes it easy to distinguish.
Batzella rubra is reported from shallow reefs in Cuba and the Bahamas.
This is the first report of this species on mesophotic reefs. At FGBNMS, the specimen in the photo was found on the eastern Flower Garden Bank, and the species is rare to moderately common at ten other sites.
Habitats: Coralline algal reefs, algal knolls, lower mesophotic reefs.
Synonym: Keratylum rubrum Alcolado, 1984
When alive, it is deep orange to bright red in color.
The surface is smooth and decorated with brightly colored cutaneous canals that branch away from the oscula, are broad near the oscula, and taper away from it.
The consistency of this marine sponge is compressible where the sponge is thicker.
The sponge can be confused with other red encrusting species, but the peculiar "dripping" morphology of the cutaneous canals makes it easy to distinguish.
Batzella rubra is reported from shallow reefs in Cuba and the Bahamas.
This is the first report of this species on mesophotic reefs. At FGBNMS, the specimen in the photo was found on the eastern Flower Garden Bank, and the species is rare to moderately common at ten other sites.
Habitats: Coralline algal reefs, algal knolls, lower mesophotic reefs.
Synonym: Keratylum rubrum Alcolado, 1984
