Brain sponge
Species of sponge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The brain sponge (Isodictya elastica) is a species of marine demosponge in the family Isodictyidae.[1] It is present from the west coast of South Africa to Port Elizabeth. It is endemic to this region.[2]
| Brain sponge | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Demospongiae |
| Order: | Poecilosclerida |
| Family: | Isodictyidae |
| Genus: | Isodictya |
| Species: | I. elastica |
| Binomial name | |
| Isodictya elastica (Vosmaer, 1880) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Description
The brain sponge may grow to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) across. It has a smooth surface, covered with many scattered oscula. It may be beige to pink in colour and grows in two forms: one massive and convoluted, rather like a brain, and the other with narrowing fingers. Its texture is soft and compressible.[2][3]
Habitat
This sponge lives on rocky reefs subtidally to 25 metres (82 ft).
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