Penares sphaera

This pale sponge has a thick encrusting growth form. It ranges from white to pale peach to light grey. It is very hard, almost stony. It does, however, tear easily. The surface looks smooth but has a rough texture. White ringed ostioles are scattered across the surface and may be more clustered in some parts. Oscules are abundant on the upper parts. It may grow to be {{Convert|110|mm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{Convert|90|mm|in|abbr=on}} wide.

The following spicules make up the skeleton of this species:

• Dichotriaenes (spicules that branch in pairs) with short rays
• Curved robust oxeas (spicules with pointed ends)
• Curved microxeas (small oxeas)

Dichotriaenes and envelop the surface. The longest rays face inwards. Oxeas and microxeas are scattered in the choanosome. The cortex is made of densely packed microxeas.

This species is found off the coast of Namibia and off the West, South and East Coasts of South Africa. It grows on solid surfaces at depths of {{Convert|107-500|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

This species is sometimes found growing on other sponges.Uriz, María Jesús (1988). [https://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/98603/3/Deep-water%20sponges%20from%20the%20continental%20shelf%20and%20slope%20of%20Namibia_1.pdf Deep-water sponges from the continental shelf and slope of Namibia (south-west Africa). Classes Hexactinellida and Demospongiae]. CSIC-Instituto de Ciencias del Mar (ICM) Molluscs may be found living within the sponge and invertebrates may be found living on the surface. {{Cite book|last1=Atkinson|first1=Lara J|url=http://www.saeon.ac.za/Field%20Guide%20to%20SA%20Offshore%20Marine%20Invertebrates_web%20full%20version.pdf|title=Field guide to the offshore marine invertebrates of South Africa|last2=Sink|first2=Kerry J|date=2018|publisher=South African Environmental Observation Network|isbn=978-1-86868-098-6|location=Pretoria|oclc=1037159161}}

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Category:Demospongiae

Category:Species described in 1907