''Latrunculia biformis'', the mud-clump sponge, is a widespread deep sea
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 southern hemisphere.
Description
This tough and firm sponge is chocolate brown or olive green in colour and grows up to in length and in width.
They are semi-spherical or ovoid in shape, with the surface covered in conical, volcano-shaped
oscules and flattened disk-like projections.
Spicules
* Megascleres: Anisostyles that are smooth and straight or curved. The apical extremity is needle-like.
* Microscleres: Aciculodiscorhabds are very similar to anisodiscorhabds, only differing in having a well developed spined apical projection.
Distribution and habitat
This species is widely distributed across the southern hemisphere. It is a deep sea sponge and has been found at a depth of . It is known from the coasts of southwest Africa,
Río de la Plata in South America, and the
Antarctic
The Antarctic ( or , American English also or ; commonly ) is a polar region around Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica, the Kerguelen Plateau and other ...
and
Subantarctic regions.
Biologically important compounds
As is the case with the majority of the species in its genus, the mud-clump sponge contains chemical compounds which are of medical interest. These include several discorhabdins with anti-cancer properties.
Additionally, an extracted tridiscorhabdin has been shown to exhibit highly
cytotoxic
Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic to cells. Examples of toxic agents are an immune cell or some types of venom, e.g. from the puff adder (''Bitis arietans'') or brown recluse spider (''Loxosceles reclusa'').
Cell physiology
Treating cells ...
activity against human colon cancer cells. Extracted lipids have also been shown to have strong
antioxidative
Antioxidants are Chemical compound, compounds that inhibit Redox, oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce Radical (chemistry), free radicals. This can lead to polymerization and other chain reactions. They are frequently added to indust ...
properties.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3454300
Demospongiae