Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Tree sponge

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Class
  
Demospongiae

Suborder
  
Microcionina

Phylum
  
Porifera

Order
  
Poecilosclerida

Family
  
Microcionidae

Tree sponge

The tree sponge, Echinoclathria dichotoma, is a species of demosponge. It is known from the west coast of South Africa to Cape Agulhas. It is endemic to this region.

Contents

Description

The tree sponge may grow to 15 cm in height. It is a bright red sponge which grows upright and branches like a tree. The surface texture is smooth and the branch tips are rounded. Its oscula are inconspicuous.

Habitat

This sponge lives on rocky reefs subtidally to 43m.

Ecology

This sponge is often colonised by a white zoanthid, Parazoanthus sp.

References

Tree sponge Wikipedia