Tethya aurantium
| Tethya aurantium | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Demospongiae |
| Order: | Hadromerida |
| Family: | Tethyidae |
| Genus: | Tethya |
| Species: | T. aurantium |
| Binomial name | |
| Tethya aurantium (Pallas, 1766) | |
Tethya aurantium, the golf ball sponge, or orange puffball sponge, is a species of demosponge belonging to the family Tethyidae.[1] It is spherical in shape, with a warty surface, and grows to about 10 cm in diameter. Oscula are present on the upper surface. The surface has sharp protruding spicules which can cause skin irritation if touched.[2]
It is found from southern Namibia round the southern African coast to KwaZulu-Natal, usually on shallow reefs.[2]
References
- ↑ http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=134311 accessed 14 November 2010
- 1 2 Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0
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