| Ectyonopsis pluridentata | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Demospongiae |
| Order: | Poecilosclerida |
| Family: | Myxillidae |
| Genus: | Ectyonopsis |
| Species: | E. pluridentata |
| Binomial name | |
| Ectyonopsis pluridentata (Lévi, 1963) | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Ectyonopsis pluridentata, the fused branch sponge, is a species of demosponge from South Africa.
The fused branch sponge is made up of a thick cluster of fused branches arising from an indistinct base. It grows up to 130 mm (5.1 in) long and 160 mm (6.3 in) wide. It is beige to rusty brown in colour. The surface is rough and is covered in small (<1 mm (0.039 in)) circular ostia. While it is firm and compressible, it also breaks easily. [2]
It is a suspension and a filter feeder. [3]
This species is endemic to South Africa. It is found on the South and West coasts of the country, where it lives at depths of 79–201 m (259–659 ft). [2]
Hexasterophora are a subclass of glass sponges in the class Hexactinellida. Most living hexasterophorans can be divided into three orders: Lyssacinosida, Lychniscosida, and Sceptrulophora. Like other glass sponges, hexasterophorans have skeletons composed of overlapping six-rayed spicules. In addition, they can be characterized by the presence of hexasters, a type of microsclere with six rays unfurling into multi-branched structures.
Tethya samaaii, also known as the red golf ball sponge, is a species of sea sponge belonging to the family Tethyidae. It is spherical in shape and grows to about 6 cm in diameter. It is reddish in colour. It appears to be endemic to the west coast of South Africa and has been found in 12m of water.
The yellow encrusting sponge is a species of sea sponge in the family Biemnidae. This sponge is known from the west coast of South Africa to Port Elizabeth. It is endemic to this region.
Haliclona anonyma, the turret sponge or tubular fan sponge, is a species of demosponge. It is endemic to South Africa, where it occurs between the Cape Peninsula and Sodwana Bay.
Haliclona stilensis, the encrusting turret sponge, is a species of demosponge. It is known around the southern African coast, from Namibia to the South African south coast.
The multicoloured sea fan is a species of gorgonian sea fan in the family Melithaeidae.
Cliona delitrix is a species of burrowing demosponge belonging to the family Clionaidae. It is found in shallow water in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
The variable soft coral is a species of colonial soft coral in the family Alcyoniidae.
The palmate sea fan is a species of gorgonian sea fan in the family Gorgoniidae.
The furred sponge crab, Pseudodromia latens, is a species of crab in the family Dromiidae, often referred to as sponge crabs.
Glyptidotea is a monotypic genus of isopod in the family Idoteidae. Its sole member is Glyptidotea lichtensteini, the keeled isopod, a medium-sized isopod found on the coast of southern Africa.
Exosphaeroma laeviusculum is a species of isopod in the family Sphaeromatidae, native to the west coast of southern Africa.
Fibulia ramosa, or the columnar sponge, is a species of deep-sea demosponge from the southern hemisphere.
Phorbas pustulosus, or the baseball glove sponge, is a species of demosponge known from the coast of South Africa and from the Patagonian Shelf.
Antho prima, or Antho (Acarnia) prima also known as the orange fan sponge is a species of sponge belonging to the genus Antho found on the south coast of South Africa and the coast of New Zealand.
Clathria lissoclada, the triangular blade sponge, is a species of demosponge from the southern hemisphere.
Ectyonopsis is a genus of demosponges in the family Myxillidae. They are mostly known from the waters surrounding Australia and from the Southern Ocean.
Penares sphaera, the crater sponge, is a deep sea demosponge from southern Africa.
Tetilla casula, the volcano sponge, is a species of demosponge from the south coast of South Africa.
Rossella antarctica is a relatively small species of glass sponge. It is widely distributed in the southern hemisphere, particularly in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions.
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