Red encrusting sponge

The red encrusting sponge (Clathria oudekraalensis) is a species of sea sponge.[1] It is known only from the South African coast, on both sides of the Cape Peninsula. It is endemic to this region.[1]

Red encrusting sponge
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Poecilosclerida
Family: Microcionidae
Genus: Clathria
Subgenus: Isociella
Species:
C. oudekraalensis
Binomial name
Clathria oudekraalensis
Samaai & Gibbons, 2005
Synonyms
  • Clathria oudekraalensis

Description

The red encrusting sponge grows to about 1 cm in thickness and up to 30 cm wide. It is a bright red encrusting sponge. Its surface is smooth and the oscula are not visible.[1][2]

Habitat

This sponge lives on rocky reefs in 6-24m of water.[2]

References

  1. 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
  2. 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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