Brain sponge
Species of sponge
Brain sponge | |
---|---|
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Porifera |
Class: | Demospongiae |
Order: | Poecilosclerida |
Family: | Isodictyidae |
Genus: | Isodictya |
Species: | I. elastica |
Binomial name | |
Isodictya elastica (Vosmaer, 1880) | |
Synonyms | |
|
The brain sponge (Isodictya elastica) is a species of marine demosponge in the family Isodictyidae.[1] This sponge is known from the west coast of South Africa to Port Elizabeth. It is endemic to this region.[2]
Description
The brain sponge may grow to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) across. It has a smooth surface, covered with many scattered oscula. It may be beige to pink in colour and grows in two forms: one massive and convoluted, rather like a brain, and the other with narrowing fingers. Its texture is soft and compressible.[2][3]
Habitat
This sponge lives on rocky reefs subtidally to 25 metres (82 ft).
References
- ^ "Isodictya elastica (Vosmaer, 1880)". WoRMS. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
- ^ a b Samaai, Toufiek; Gibbons, Mark J. (November 2005). "Demospongiae taxonomy and biodiversity of the Benguela region on the west coast of South Africa". Afr. Nat. Hist. 1 (1): 1–96.
- ^ Jones, Georgina (2008). A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. Cape Town: SURG. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9.
- v
- t
- e