Clathria dayi

broad-bladed tree sponge
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Porifera
Class:	Demospongiae
Order:	Poecilosclerida
Suborder:	Microcionina
Family:	Microcionidae
Subfamily:	Microcioninae
Genus:	Clathria
Subgenus:	Clathria (Clathria)
Species:	C. dayi
Binomial name
	Clathria (Clathria) dayi; Lévi, 1963

The broad-bladed tree sponge, Clathria (Clathria) dayi, is a species of demosponge.^[1] It is known from the west coast of South Africa and around Cape Point to False Bay. It is probably endemic to this region.^[1]

Description

The broad-bladed tree sponge may grow to 20 cm in height and be 2–4 cm thick. It is a massive erect sponge, having broad flat blades extending from a small stalk. It has a slightly hairy texture, but is smooth in appearance. It is bright red in colour.^[1]^[2]

Habitat

This sponge lives on rocky reefs in 15-272m of water.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Samaai, T. and Gibbons, M.J. 2005. Demospongiae taxonomy and biodiversity of the Benguela region on the west coast of South Africa. Afr. Nat. Hist. 1(1):1-96
^ Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9

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[Samaai-1] Samaai, T. and Gibbons, M.J. 2005. Demospongiae taxonomy and biodiversity of the Benguela region on the west coast of South Africa. Afr. Nat. Hist. 1(1):1-96

[Jones_2008-2] Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9

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