PORT PHILLIP BAY


Sponge 

Tedania anhelans (Lieberkühn, 1859)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

This species has different forms of megasclere spicules in the outer ectosome compared to those deeper in the choanosome. Commonly coloured bright orange and can be thickly encrusting to cushion-shaped with conspicuous oscules clustered on top of the lobes.

Brief species characters:
Growth form: encrusting, lobate.
Mineral skeleton: siliceous.
Megescleres: monaxone.
Surface texture: lumpy, oscules apical.

Family level characters:
These sponges are characterised by their small, spined, rod-shaped microscleres known as onychaetes. The claw-like chelae, typical of poecilosclerid sponges, are not found in this family. Growth forms range from encrusting to massive or digitate. Structural spicules of these sponges may be enclosed within spongin fibres in the skeleton or where fibres are lacking, may be cemented together at their tips.

Order level characters:
This order contains the highest diversity of sponge species in the phylum, spread amongst 25 families. Member species have been recorded from all marine habitats. Poecilosclerid sponges are characterised by the presence of both organic (fibre) and inorganic (spicular) skeletal components, both usually well developed. Different spicule and skeletal elements are often localised to particular regions of the sponge. A diverse range of spicule types is displayed throughout this order including the c-shaped chelae microscleres that are peculiar to this order. Examples from 11 of the 25 families are included here.

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

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Porifera
Class:
Demospongiae
Order:
Poecilosclerida
Family:
Tedaniidae
Genus:
Tedania
Species:
anhelans

General Description

A yellow to orange sponge species with encrusting to lobate form. Size of about 60 cm.

Habitat

Reef and jetty areas, to depth of 5 m.

Sponge gardens

Reefs

Distribution guide

Worldwide.

Species Group

Sponges › Demosponges

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

60 cm

Diet

Plankton or particles

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

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, Tedania anhelans, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 08 Jan 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7695

Text: creative commons cc by licence