An overview of the Mediterranean cave-dwelling horny sponges (Porifera, Demospongiae) Author Manconi, Renata Author Cadeddu, Barbara Author Ledda, Fabio Author Pronzato, Roberto text ZooKeys 2013 281 1 68 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.281.4171 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.281.4171 1313-2970-281-1 Ircinia retidermata Pulitzer-Finali and Pronzato, 1980 Fig. 18 Ircinia retidermata Pulitzer-Finali and Pronzato, 1980: 150. Description. Growth form massive, rounded, ca. 10 x 5 x 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. Habitat. Cave, muddy and rocky bottom. Here we report a new record from a submerged cave in the NW-Sardinian karst. Bathymetric range shallow water up to 80 m. Mediterranean caves. Falco* Cave (Sardinian Sea) ( Cadeddu 2012 ). Figure 18 Ircinia retidermata . a habitus of the type specimen b an underwater image of a living specimen c, d, e different magnifications (LM) of the skeletal network showing cored primary fibres, uncored secondaries, and the typical irciniid filaments f sponge surface finely granulate by mineral debris embedded in a very close fibrillar network. a modified from Pulitzer-Finali and Pronzato (1980) .