The Sponges

Decorations in the garden

Slatey     Finger     Golf ball     Orange Pointy

Slatey Spongeslaty

(Ancorina alata)

Habitat: Common on rocks from low water downwards.

Identification: A dull bluish-grey mass spreading over rocks. In this picture, a large slatey sponge spreads over some pink coralline algae.

General: The primitive cellular construction of sponges consists of an outer layer of covering cells and an inner layer of cells that move water through the animals. Between the two layers are numerous wandering, amoeba-like cells and supporting skeletal structures called spicules. If a piece of sponge is broken off, the tiny, glassy spicules of the skeleton will feel prickly.

 

Finger Sponge

(Callyspongia, Raspailia and Iophon sp.)

Habitat: Attached to shells or stones below low tide.

Identification: Tall, finger-like, spongy branches.

General: A pock-marked sponge, where the larger holes are used to expel water absorbed through other cells.

 

Golf ball Sponge

(Tethya aurantium)

Habitat: Rocky reefs above 10 metres.

Identification: Golf ball sized sphere, commonly orange coloured.

General: I've seen them, but I need to find more info about them.

 

Orange Pointy Spongeorngpnty

Possibly a breadcrumb sponge, halichondria.

Habitat: Rocky reefs above 10 metres.

Identification: A bright orange sponge with many hollow pointed nozzles protruding from the surface.

General: I have very little info about this sponge.



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