Description:-
Body erect, tubular, flabellate or even repent in form; branches are 5-10mm in diameter. Colour is violet when alive; Compressible consistency with good resiliency. This species may also show a tendency to incorporate pebbles etc. into their body. Oscules are scattered irregularly or marginal and serial; diameter upto 5mm and compound. Pores minute, one per mesh. Surface is reticulated and hispid, and this hispidity is due to the presence of vertically arranged oxeas from the surface. Main fibres and connectives are quite distinct. The main fibres are coarse and multispicular with diameter upto 0.1mm. Connectives are also multispicular, diameter up to 0.05mm. Spicules: (1) Oxeas. Size, 0.063-0.118×0.002-0.009mm.
Synonyms:-
Callyspongia (Callyspongia) multiformis var. manaarensis (Dendy, 1889)
Callyspongia diffusa (Ridley, 1884)
Ceraochalina ceylonica (Dendy, 1905)
Ceraochalina retiarmata (Dendy, 1905)
Chalinopora lamella (Lendenfeld, 1887)
Cladochalina diffusa (Ridley, 1884)
Pachychalina diffusa (Ridley, 1884)
Pachychalina multiformis var.manaarensis (Dendy, 1889)
References:-
Biju Kumar, A. 2012. ‘Kerala Theerathe Kadal Jeevikal’ (Marine Animals of Kerala coast- A Field Guide). Kerala State Biodiversity Board, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 304 pp. (In Malayalam)
Thomas, P.A. 1985. Demospongiae of the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay. In: recent advances in marine biology, today and tomorrow (P.S.B.R. James, ed.), Printers, New Delhi, 205-365.
van Soest, R. (2014). Callyspongia (Cladochalina) diffusa (Ridley, 1884). In: Van Soest, R.W.M; Boury-Esnault, N.; Hooper, J.N.A.; Rützler, K.; de Voogd, N.J.; Alvarez de Glasby, B.; Hajdu, E.; Pisera, A.B.; Manconi, R.; Schoenberg, C.; Janussen, D.; Tabachnick, K.R., Klautau, M.; Picton, B.; Kelly, M.; Vacelet, J.; Dohrmann, M.; Díaz, M.-C.; Cárdenas, P. (2014) World Porifera database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=166210 on 2014-12-10