Grey wall sponge explained

The grey wall sponge (Stelletta agulhana) is a species of sea sponge belonging to the family Ancorinidae.^[1] It is found around the coast of Southern Africa from the Northern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal. It is an endemic species.

Description

The grey wall sponge may grow to 10 cm thick and 40–50 cm in length. It is a massive grey sponge with fine spicules protruding from its surface. It has a stony texture, with small oscula visible on the upper surface.

Habitat

This sponge lives on rocky reefs in 2-90m of water.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Samaai, T. and Gibbons, M.J. 2005. Demospongiae taxonomy and biodiversity of the Benguela region on the west coast of South Africa. Afr. Nat. Hist. 1(1):1-96
2. Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008.