| Suberites dandelenae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Demospongiae |
| Order: | Suberitida |
| Family: | Suberitidae |
| Genus: | Suberites |
| Species: | S. dandelenae |
| Binomial name | |
| Suberites dandelenae Samaai & Maduray, 2017 | |
Suberites dandelenae, the amorphous solid sponge, is a species of deep-sea demosponge from South Africa and Namibia.
This sponge is made up of rounded lobes. Each lobe has a distinct oscule on the top surface. [1] Individual specimens can grow up to 40 cm (16 in) in length. [2] It is yellow in colour and has a velvety surface. [1] [2] It breaks easily. [2]
Several morphologically similar species occur, but they differ at the spicule level. [1] The following spicules are present in this species: [2]
This species is found off the west coast of southern Africa. It is known from the coasts of Namibia and South Africa, where it is found at depths of 80–500 m (260–1,640 ft). [1] It is found on unconsolidated sediments such as sand. [2]
This species grows in dense colonies. [1] As much as 18 tons per square kilometer (6.95 tons per square mile) can be collected in a single demersal trawl off some areas of the South African coast. [2] It is considered to be a potential indicator of a vulnerable marine ecosystem. [1]