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
	Desmacidon ramosa (Ridley & Dendy, 1886) ; Desmacidon ramosum (Ridley & Dendy, 1886); Isodictya ramosa (Ridley & Dendy, 1886); Plumocolumella ramosa (Ridley & Dendy, 1886);

Fibulia ramosa, or the columnar sponge, is a species of deep-sea demosponge from the southern hemisphere.

Description

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

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

^ "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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[1] "Fibulia ramosa". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 24 July 2021.

[:0-2] 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

[3] 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

[4] Bright, Katherine MF. 1938. Contribution to our knowledge of the South African intertidal zone

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