Fibulia ramosa
| Fibulia ramosa | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Demospongiae |
| Order: | Poecilosclerida |
| Family: | Dendoricellidae |
| Genus: | Fibulia |
| Species: | F. ramosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Fibulia ramosa (Ridley & Dendy, 1886)
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Fibulia ramosa, or the columnar sponge, is a species of deep-sea demosponge from the southern hemisphere.
Description
[edit | edit source]The columnar sponge grows upright, made up by somewhat fused pale orange-brown column branches. These may become curved or twisted. It typically reaches a length of up to 60 mm (2.4 in) and a width of up to 40 mm (1.6 in). The surface is covered by small cone-like projections and has a sandpapery texture. The sponge is a firm, tough and leathery structure.[2]
Distribution and habitat
[edit | edit source]This species is found of the coasts of south-western Africa, as well as off the Prince Edward Islands.[2] It is known to be one of the most common sponge species off the West Coast of South Africa,[3] where it has been found growing on soft sediments. This is a deep water species and is typically found at a depth of 91–287 m (299–942 ft).[2] It has, however, also been found growing on holdfasts in kelp forests.[4]
References
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- ^ Bright, Katherine MF. 1938. Contribution to our knowledge of the South African intertidal zone
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