''Clathria pachystyla'', the orange finger sponge, is a species of
demosponge
Demosponges (Demospongiae) are the most diverse class in the phylum Porifera. They include 76.2% of all species of sponges with nearly 8,800 species worldwide (World Porifera Database). They are sponges with a soft body that covers a har ...
from the coast of South Africa.
Description
This orange sponge grows in an upright and somewhat fan-shaped form growing up to a length of . Fused branches arise from flat blades. It is somewhat compressible and tears with some force.
Distribution and habitat
This species is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
, where it has been recorded at a depth of about .
References
Demospongiae
Biodiversity of South Africa
Animals described in 1963
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