Green finger sponge
Iotrochota birotulata
(Higgin, 1977)

Description:
Sprawling or upright, thick, ramose branches with a conulose surface; small incrusting specimens often wholly or partly smooth. Length of the branches up to 50 cm, diameter 1-5 cm. Incrusting specimens may only be a few mm in thickness. Consistency tough, incompressible.

Color:
Black, mottled with longitudinal green patches; occasionally entirely greenish-yellow. Gives off a dark purplish exudates when squeezed.

Habitat:
Known from reefs, undersides of stones in shallow bays and from deeper water beyond the reefs. Frequently covered with winding chains of Golden zoanthids (Parazoanthus swiftii ).

Distribution:
Common South Florida, Caribbean to Venezuela.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Porifera
Genus Iotrochota
Species Iotrochota birotulata

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Iotrochota birotulata (Higgin, 1877)

Scientific synonyms and common names

Green finger sponge [English]
Groene vingerspons [Dutch]
Éponge digitée verte [French]
Grüner Finger-Schwamm [German]

Humann, P., 1992. Reef Creature Identification - Florida Caribbean Bahamas, (ed. N. Deloach). New World Publications, Inc., Paramount Miller Graphics, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida.

Soest, R.W.M. van, 1984. Marine sponges from Curaçao and other Caribbean islands. Part III. Poecilosclerida. Studies on the fauna of Curaçao and other Caribbean islands, 199.

Voss, G.L., 1976. Seashore life of Florida and the Carribbean. Banyan Books, Inc. Miami, Florida.

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