PORT PHILLIP BAY


Sponge 

Oceanapia sp. MoV 6688

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Sponges in this genus have a crust of spicules aligned parallel, or tangential, to the surface of the sponge. They often have a hollow "body" with protruding fistules but may be globular or erect and plate-like. The mesh formed by the network of spicule tracts, tends to be oval-shaped.

Brief species characters:
Growth form: encrusting, fistulose.
Mineral skeleton: siliceous.
Megescleres: monaxone.
Surface texture: smooth, fistules.

Family level characters:
Sponges in this family are differentiated from other haplosclerid sponges by having a detachable surface layer or crust. The arrangement of spicules in the skeleton of these sponges is termed isotropic meaning a mesh of single spicules without differentiation into a hierarchy of fibres. Phloeodictyid sponges are commonly burrowing in habit and often adopt a fistulose growth form of tubes that project above the substrate.

Order level characters:
This order contains the greatest biodiversity of sponges with representatives inhabiting all oceans and habitat types, including freshwater bodies, of every continent in the world. Sponges of this order are characterised by a triangular mesh formed by their fibre and/or spicular skeletal elements. This is termed an isodictyal skeleton. The megasclere spicules found in haplosclerid sponges are exclusively oxeas, with either sharply pointed, or rounded (strongylote) ends. Microscleres are present in representatives of only a few genera. Some of the more common marine species are included here.

Source: Goudie, L., Norman, M. N. and Finn, J. K. (in press) Sponges, Museum Victoria.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Porifera
Class:
Demospongiae
Order:
Haplosclerida
Family:
Phloeodictyidae
Genus:
Oceanapia

General Description

An orange to red sponge species with encrusting to fistulose form. Size of about 10 cm.

Habitat

Reef areas, at depths of 3-30 m.

Sponge gardens

Reefs

Distribution guide

South Australia and Victoria.

Species Group

Sponges › Demosponges

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

10 cm

Diet

Plankton or particles

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Species Code

sp. MoV 6688

Identify

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Goudie, L.

Lisa Goudie is a consultant with expertise in sponge taxonomy.

citation

Cite this page as:
Goudie, L., 2011, Sponge, Oceanapia , in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7678

Text: creative commons cc by licence