Brain sponge

brain sponge
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Poecilosclerida
Suborder: Mycalina
Family: Isodictyidae
Genus: Isodictya
Species: I. elastica
Binomial name
Isodictya elastica
(Vosmaer, 1880)

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 cm 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 25m.

References

  1. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=168455 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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