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 | |
| |
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
- 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
- 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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