It was first described by Lehnert & Rob van Soest in 1996, the type location being the Greater Antilles.

[3] The consistency of this sponge is elastic and compressible and zoanthids are sometimes found growing on the walls.

[2] This species is known from the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the east coast of Florida, the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Panama, Belize and northeastern Brazil.

[2] It was discovered in 1993 during exploration of steep fore-reef slopes in the Caribbean Sea at depths between 70 and 90 m (230 and 300 ft).

These are free-living, and when fully developed settle on the seabed and undergo metamorphosis into the adult form.