Fibulia ramosa
| Fibulia ramosa | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Demospongiae |
| Order: | Poecilosclerida |
| Family: | Dendoricellidae |
| Genus: | Fibulia |
| Species: | F. ramosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Fibulia ramosa (Ridley & Dendy, 1886)
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Fibulia ramosa, or the columnar sponge, is a species of deep-sea demosponge from the southern hemisphere.
Description[edit]
The columnar sponge grows upright, made up by somewhat fused pale orange-brown column branches. These may become curved or twisted. It typically reaches a length of up to 60 mm (2.4 in) and a width of up to 40 mm (1.6 in). The surface is covered by small cone-like projections and has a sandpapery texture. The sponge is a firm, tough and leathery structure.[2]
Distribution and habitat[edit]
This species is found of the coasts of south-western Africa, as well as off the Prince Edward Islands.[2] It is known to be one of the most common sponge species off the West Coast of South Africa,[3] where it has been found growing on soft sediments. This is a deep water species and is typically found at a depth of 91–287 m (299–942 ft).[2] It has, however, also been found growing on holdfasts in kelp forests.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ "Fibulia ramosa". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ a b c Lara Atkinson; Kerry Sink (2018), Field Guide to the Offshore Marine Invertebrates of South Africa (PDF), South African Environmental Observation Network, Malachite Marketing and Media (Pty) Ltd, doi:10.15493/saeon.pub.10000001, retrieved 2021-07-24
- ^ Samaai, T.; Sink, K.; Kirkman, S.; Atkinson, L.; Florence, W.; Kerwath, S.; Parker, D.; Yemane, D. (2020), Rossi, Sergio; Bramanti, Lorenzo (eds.), "The Marine Animal Forests of South Africa: Importance for Bioregionalization and Marine Spatial Planning", Perspectives on the Marine Animal Forests of the World, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 17–61, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-57054-5_2, ISBN 978-3-030-57053-8, S2CID 234988773, retrieved 2021-07-24
- ^ Bright, Katherine MF. 1938. Contribution to our knowledge of the South African intertidal zone
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