Marine sponges are one of the most prominent functional components of the biotopes in Mochima Bay (Sucre State, Venezuela), which currently has 28 species inventoried. During an update of the sponge species in this bay, two specimens were collected in October 2024. These were detached from the substrate with a knife, placed in plastic bags, and refrigerated. Before collection, in situ photographs were taken with a digital camera, and the external characteristics of the sponge were noted. In the laboratory, the relevant histological analyses were performed to understand the sponge’s structure and determine the spicule typology. The results showed that the specimens belong to the species Neopetrosia carbonaria Lamarck, 1814. This species has an encrusting or massive form, is black, and has a uniform, smooth, or micro rugose surface with a firm consistency. The oscules are scattered, with a volcano-shaped membrane, measuring 3 to 5 mm in diameter. The skeleton consists of thick spicular bundles, forming a reticulum of rounded to polygonal meshes, 130-650 μm wide, with loose spicules. The ectosome is a regular isodictyal reticulation of simple spicules joined by spongin at their nodes, with a superimposed choanosome forming a sub-superficial plot. The spicules are hastate oxeas megascleres, robust, and slightly curved, measuring 162-200 μm in length and 1.4-2.4 μm in width. The studied specimens were found in shallow waters, on seagrass beds, dead corals or rocks. Given that N. subtriangularis (Duchassaing, 1850) was previously the only known species of the genus in the country, this represents the second record of a Neopetrosia species for Venezuela, thereby extending the geographic distribution range of N. carbonaria in the Caribbean Sea.
