Ircinia retidermata Pulitzer-Finali & Pronzato 1981

Growth form massive, rounded, ca. 10 × 5 × 5 cm. Consistency firm and elastic. Colour in the preserved state is from beige to mid brown; living specimens appear a little bit darker. Surface conulose with blunt conules (ca. 1–2 mm high, 1–3 mm apart) connected with each other by a raised, honeycombed reticulation with meshes (ca. 80 µm in diameter) quite conspicuous at bare eye, made of fine particles of sand and a concentration of filaments. Oscules (2–5 mm in diameter) scattered, with elevated margins. Skeleton reticulate with meshes 200 to 600 µm in diameter. Main fibres (50–80 µm in thickness) not fasciculate, moderately cored by foreign matter (sand and spicule fragments). Secondary fibres (20–80 µm thick) irregularly trellis-like, free of inclusions. Filaments ca. 5 µm thick.