





i 



*^C\V£ 



'~* ■ . . 



i •*« i i 



■**:>**''. 



■ 





■? * , 





^L' *- 





Figure 3« — Mediterranean Bengasi 



present in the Inshore sponges — tufts 

 that -would make them easier to identify. 

 The greater softness of the Deepwater 

 sponge is not detected easily except 

 when the sponge is wet. It is puzzling 

 that the Deepwater Mediterranean sponge 

 appears to be the softer of the pair, 

 since the American Inshore sponge, 

 which usually is found in relatively 

 shallow water, is softer than is its 

 deepwater twin, the Rock Island sponge. 



Florida Key Wool or Sheepswool 



The Florida Key Wool or Sheepswool 

 sponge (figure U) is similar to many 

 sponges marketed as Inshore sponges. 

 It resembles a cross between the Inshore sponge and the Mediterranean 

 sponge in that it usually has the feathery outside surface' of the Inshore 

 sponge, but it contains relatively more holes between 1/8 and l/U inch 

 in diameter and, in general, is flatter on top. Relatively more of the 

 Florida Key Wool sponges possess red bottoms and weak inside structure*. 

 This description differs from that given by Stuart (Series No. 82), 

 who seems to have described a poorer type that may have made a slow re- 

 covery from the Blight of 1939 to 19U6. 



Cuban Sea Wool 



The Cuban Sea Wool sponge (figure 5) is another type of Sheepswool 

 sponge, judging by the samples received. Except for a tendency to be 

 taller than it is broad, it most nearly resembles the Mediterranean 

 types in that it contains many holes, has very little surface webbing 

 or tufts, and is softer than is the Rock Island type. 



No differences in the fibrous structures of any of the above wool 

 sponges could be detected with a good magnifying glass. An examination 





Figure U.— Florida Key Wool 



- 



■ - ■■"■■■ 







Figure !>• — Cuban Sea Wool 



10 



