Haliclona anonyma, the turret sponge or tubular fan sponge, is a species of demosponge.[1][2] It is endemic to South Africa,[3] where it occurs between the Cape Peninsula and Sodwana Bay.[2]
| Haliclona anonyma | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Demospongiae |
| Order: | Haplosclerida |
| Family: | Chalinidae |
| Genus: | Haliclona |
| Subgenus: | Haliclona |
| Species: | H. anonyma
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| Binomial name | |
| Haliclona anonyma (Stephens, 1915)
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| Synonyms | |
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Description
editHaliclona anonyma grows to about 50 cm (20 in) across and has turrets of up to 15 cm (5.9 in) long. It is a pink to purplish or brown many-turreted sponge, which grows in sheets usually on vertical walls. The coalescent (fused) tubular branches terminate in rounded ends with slightly raised conspicuous oscules. Its surface is slightly bristly with small ostia (channels allowing for water movement), and its texture is soft and compressible.[2][3]
Distribution and habitat
editThis sponge is endemic to the south and west coasts of South Africa.[3] It occurs from the intertidal zone.[4] It has been found to occur down to 144 m (472 ft) in depth.[3] They are frequently attached to rocks by coralline algae which grows between the sponge matrix.[5]
References
edit
- ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Haliclona (Haliclona) anonyma (Stephens, 1915)". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
- ^ 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
- ^ a b c d Atkinson, LJ; Sink, KJ (2018). Field Guide to the Offshore Marine Invertebrates of South Africa (PDF). Pretoria: Malachite Marketing and Media.
- ^ Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9
- ^ Stuart, V.; Klumpp, D. W. (1984). "Evidence for food-resource partitioning by kelp-bed filter feeders". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 16 (1/2): 27–37. Bibcode:1984MEPS...16...27S. doi:10.3354/meps016027. ISSN 0171-8630. JSTOR 24816066.
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