Amphilectus utriculus is a species of demosponges found in the Atlantic waters west of Mauritania, western Africa.[1] The species name utriculus is Latin for "small water bag", referring to the hollow, flattened shape.[2]

Amphilectus utriculus
Amphilectus utriculus sp. nov. A,C-E. Holotype ZMA Por. 22592. B. Paratypes ZMA Por. 06636. C. Cross section showing skeletal structure. D. Peripheral skeleton showing protruding spicule tracts and clusters of microscleres. E. Spicules in light microscopy.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Poecilosclerida
Family: Esperiopsidae
Genus: Amphilectus
Species:
A. utriculus
Binomial name
Amphilectus utriculus
van Soest, Beglinger & de Voogd, 2012

The species was discovered in 1988 in the waters southwest of Cap Timiris in Mauritania, at about 270 m depth, on muddy bottom. It has been observed in several other locations near Cap Timiris.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Amphilectus utriculus". Marine Species.
  2. ^ a b van Soest, Rob W. M.; Beglinger, Elly J.; de Voogd, Nicole J. (2012). "Sponges of the family Esperiopsidae (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida) from northwest Africa, with the descriptions of four new species". European Journal of Taxonomy (18): 1–21. doi:10.5852/ejt.2012.18.