Table 9 Comparative table of spicule micrometries, distribution and depth data for the species of Xestospongia de Laubenfels, 1932

X. arenosa van Soest and de Weerdt, 2001

Ox: 342–514/7–14

Caribbean/14–41

X. bergquistia Fromont, 1991

Ox: I. 218–386/8.4–16 (variable in shape)/II. 269–336 × 2–8.4

NE Australia/6–15

X. bocatorensis Díaz, Thacker, Rützler and Piantoni, 2007

Ox: 230–320

Si: 10–26

Caribbean/6–12

X. caminata Pulitzer-Finali, 1986

Ox-St: 200–280/5–14

Caribbean/5–25

X. clavata Pulitzer-Finali, 1993

Ox: 300–335/25–30

W Indian Ocean/130

X. coralloides (Dendy, 1924)

Ox: 250/16

New Zealand/ca. 1823

X. delaubenfelsi Riveros, 1951

Ox: 220/11

Chile/55

X. deweerdtae Lehnert and van Soest, 1999

Sg: 272–346/16–32

Caribbean/10–80

X. diprosopia (de Laubenfels, 1930)

Ox: 400/30

California/500

X. dubia (Ristau, 1978)

Ox: 140–180/10–16

California/0–7

X. edapha (de Laubenfels, 1930) sensu de Laubenfels (1932)

Ox: 260–270/13–15

Si: 100/30

California/n.r.

X. emphasis (de Laubenfels, 1954)

Ox: 185–205/9–10

Si: 17–18

Micronesia/< 2

X. friabilis (Topsent, 1892) (holotype remeasured)

Ox: 210

Ox: 116–165–204/2–4.7–7

Azores/130–927

X. grayi (Hechtel, 1983)

Sg: 201–334–433/3.5–6.9–10

Brazil/probably shallow

X. hispida (Ridley and Dendy, 1886)

Ox: 370/21

Kerguelen/46

sensu Uriz (1988)

Ox: 290–325/13–21

Namibia/7–239

X. informis Pulitzer-Finali, 1993

Ox: 345–390/16–23

W Indian Ocean/70

X. madidus (de Laubenfels, 1954)

Sg: 225/8

Ox: 300/1–4

Micronesia/3

X. mammillata Pulitzer-Finali, 1982

Ox: 160–330/1.5–14

NE Australia/n.r.

X. menzeli (Little, 1963)

Ox, Sg, St I: 75–106–178/3–4–5

II: 89–94–98/1–1.3–2 (immature or microxeas)

Gulf of Mexico/1.5

X. muta (Schmidt, 1870)

Ox–Sg: 173–461

Tropical W Atlantic/2–94

sensu Van Soest (1980)

Ox, Sg: 303–380–435/11–18.8–23

Caribbean/4–92

X. novaezealandiae Bergquist and Warne, 1980

Ox: 240–314/10–18

New Zealand/20–40

X. papuensis Pulitzer-Finali, 1996

Sg: 195–245/13–14

Papua New Guinea/15

X. plana (Topsent, 1892)

Ox: 235–250/9

W Mediterranean/n.r.

X. portoricensis van Soest, 1980

Sg: 377–409–429/15–17.4–19

Caribbean/10–90

X. rampa (de Laubenfels, 1934)

Sg: 330–380/12–13

Ox: 100–300 × 2–3 (microrhabds)

Caribbean/60–220

X. ridleyi (Keller, 1891)

Ox, Sg: 300–400/10

Red Sea/33

X. testudinaria (Lamarck, 1815)

sensu Vacelet and Vasseur (1965)

Ox, Sg: 230–280/6–13

Indo Pacific/n.r.

sensu Lévi (1961)

Ox, Sg: 175–475/10–12

W Indian Ocean/40

X. testudinaria var. fistulophora (Wilson, 1925)

Ox: 400–440/22

Philippines/n.r.

X. tuberosa Pulitzer-Finali, 1993

Ox: 130–270/7–13

W Indian Ocean/48

X. vansoesti Bakus and Nishiyama, 2000

Ox: 152–300/2–16

Philippines/10

X. variabilis (Ridley, 1884)

Ox: 400/19

Australia/13–22

X. variabilis (Topsent, 1892)^a

Ox: 530/33

Azores/454–736

X. variabilis var. crassa (Wilson, 1904)

Ox: 510/32 (rarely St)

Galapagos/96

X. viridenigra (Vacelet, Vasseur and Lévi, 1976)

Sg, Ox: 230–280/6–11

W Indian Ocean/2–3

X. wiedenmayeri van Soest, 1980

Ox, Sg: 230–349–428/11.5–15.3–18

Caribbean/intertidal—1.5