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Flat leaf sponge

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Flat leaf sponge
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Poecilosclerida
Family: Isodictyidae
Genus: Isodictya
Species:
I. grandis
Binomial name
Isodictya grandis
(Ridley & Dendy, 1886)
Synonyms
  • Desmacidon grandis (Ridley & Dendy, 1886)
  • Homoeodictya grandis Ridley & Dendy, 1886

The flat leaf sponge (Isodictya grandis) is a species of marine demosponge in the family Isodictyidae.[1] This sponge is known from the west coast of South Africa to False Bay. It is endemic to this region.[2]

Description

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The flat leaf sponge may grow to 1 cm thick and 20 cm high. It is an erect, thin-bladed sponge, with the blades narrowing to points at the tips. Its texture is smooth but slightly hairy with small oscula on the blade edges. It is orange-red in colour.[2][3]

Habitat

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This sponge lives on rocky reefs from 15-37m.

References

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  1. ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Isodictya grandis (Ridley & Dendy, 1886)". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  2. ^ a b 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
  3. ^ Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9