Kingdom Animalia Family Ianthellidae Phylum Porifera Order Verongida | Class Demospongiae Genus Ianthella Rank Species | |
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Similar Verongida, Aplysina, Aplysina fistularis, Aplysina aerophoba, Xestospongia | ||
Ianthella basta or elephant ear sponge is a species of fan-shaped sponge in the class Demospongiae. It is also known as the paper sponge or scroll sponge.
Contents
Sponges are marine invertebrates with a jellylike mesohyl sandwiched between two layers of cells. They are filter feeders maintaining a flow of water through their structure which passes out through large openings called oscula. They have a fragile skeleton of stiff spicules.
Distribution
The elephant ear sponge is found in the Indo-Pacific region including Indonesia and the Great Barrier Reef. It is found on coral reefs in areas with rapid water flows.
Ecology
The sea cucumber Synaptula lamperti is closely associated with the sponge and makes use of certain nutrients exuded by it.
Research is being undertaken on various metabolites and other biologically active constituents that are synthesized by the sponge.