Broad-bladed tree sponge

Broad-bladed tree sponge
broad-bladed tree sponge
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Poecilosclerida
Suborder: Microcionina
Family: Microcionidae
Subfamily: Microcioninae
Genus: Clathria
Subgenus: Clathria (Clathria)
Species: C. dayi
Binomial name
Clathria (Clathria) dayi
Lévi, 1963

The broad-bladed tree sponge, Clathria (Clathria) dayi, is a species of demosponge[1]. It is known from the west coast of South Africa and around Cape Point to False Bay. It is probably endemic to this region[1].

Description

The broad-bladed tree sponge may grow to 20 cm in height and be 2–4 cm thick. It is a massive erect sponge, having broad flat blades extending from a small stalk. It has a slightly hairy texture, but is smooth in appearance. It is bright red in colour[1].

Habitat

This sponge lives on rocky reefs in 15-272m of water.

References

  1. ^ a b c Samaai, T. and Gibbons, M.J. 2005. Demospongiae taxonomy and biodiversity of the Benguela region on the west coast of South Africa. Afr. Nat. Hist. 1(1):1-96


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