Flat leaf sponge

flat leaf sponge
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Poecilosclerida
Suborder: Mycalina
Family: Isodictyidae
Genus: Isodictya
Species: I. grandis
Binomial name
Isodictya grandis
(Ridley & Dendy, 1886)

The flat leaf sponge, Isodictya grandis, is a species of marine demosponge in the family Isodictyidae.[1] This sponge is known from the west coast of South Africa to False Bay. It is endemic to this region.[2]

Description

The flat leaf sponge may grow to 1 cm thick and 20 cm high. It is an erect, thin-bladed sponge, with the blades narrowing to points at the tips. Its texture is smooth but slightly hairy with small oscula on the blade edges. It is orange-red in colour.[2][3]

Habitat

This sponge lives on rocky reefs from 15-37m.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=168459 accessed 19 November 2010
  2. 1 2 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
  3. ↑ Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9


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