PORT PHILLIP BAY


Sponge 

Oscarella sp. MoV 6690

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Members of this cosmopolitan genus are characterised by the absence of a skeleton of any form (neither spicular nor fibrous) and by the low ratio of volume of collagenous tissue to volume of chambers (approximately 1:1).

Brief species characters:
Growth form: encrusting, tubular.
Mineral skeleton: absent.
Surface texture: tubular.

Family level characters:
Members of this family are often encrusting over the substrate. They may be tubular and soft without spicules, or massive (without a definable shape) and firm, with a skeleton of four-rayed calthrops.

Order level characters:
Sponges in this group are found mainly in shallow waters. They may be encrusting, rounded, tubular or occasionally massive. They are usually smooth to the touch and dense, but compressible. Spicules if present are unique to this order and known as calthrops.

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

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Porifera
Class:
Demospongiae
Order:
Homosclerophorida
Family:
Plakinidae
Genus:
Oscarella

General Description

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

Biology

These sponges belong to the class Demospongiae, a group that accounts for approximately 85% of all living sponge species.

Habitat

Reef areas, at depths of 2-30 m.

Sponge gardens

Reefs

Distribution guide

South Australia and Port Phillip in 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 6690

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, Oscarella , in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 27 Jul 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7679

Text: creative commons cc by licence