Suberites dandelenae
| Suberites dandelenae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Demospongiae |
| Order: | Suberitida |
| Family: | Suberitidae |
| Genus: | Suberites |
| Species: | S. dandelenae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Suberites dandelenae Samaai & Maduray, 2017
| |
Suberites dandelenae, the amorphous solid sponge, is a species of deep-sea demosponge from South Africa and Namibia.
Description
[edit]This sponge is made up of rounded lobes. Each lobe has a distinct oscule on the top surface.[1] Individual specimens can grow up to 40 cm (16 in) in length.[2] It is yellow in colour and has a velvety surface.[1][2] It breaks easily.[2]
Spicules
[edit]Several morphologically similar species occur, but they differ at the spicule level.[1] The following spicules are present in this species:[2]
- Three distinct size classes of tylostyles (spicule with a point at one end and a knob at the other).
- Centrotylostongyles/oxeas (needle-shaped spicules with a sharp point at either end).
- Tylostrongyles (spicules that have a swollen end).
- Microacanthostrongyle (small spine covered spicules that have a rounded end).
Distribution and habitat
[edit]This species is found off the west coast of southern Africa. It is known from the coasts of Namibia and South Africa, where it is found at depths of 80–500 m (260–1,640 ft).[1] It is found on unconsolidated sediments such as sand.[2]
Ecology
[edit]This species grows in dense colonies.[1] As much as 18 tons per square kilometer (6.95 tons per square mile) can be collected in a single demersal trawl off some areas of the South African coast.[2] It is considered to be a potential indicator of a vulnerable marine ecosystem.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Atkinson, Lara J; Sink, Kerry J (2018). Field guide to the offshore marine invertebrates of South Africa (PDF). Pretoria: South African Environmental Observation Network. ISBN 978-1-86868-098-6. OCLC 1037159161.
- ^ a b c d e f Samaai, Toufiek; Maduray, Seshnee; Janson, Liesl; Gibbons, Mark J; Ngwakum, Benedicta; Teske, Peter R (2017). "A new species of habitat–forming Suberites (Porifera, Demospongiae, Suberitida) in the Benguela upwelling region (South Africa)". Zootaxa. 4254 (1): 49–81. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4254.1.3. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 28609981.