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Clathria dayi
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Porifera
Class:	Demospongiae
Order:	Poecilosclerida
Family:	Microcionidae
Genus:	Clathria
Subgenus:	Clathria
Species:	C. dayi
Binomial name
Clathria dayi Lévi, 1963

Clathria dayi, the broad-bladed tree sponge, is a species of demosponge. It is known from the west coast of South Africa and around Cape Point to False Bay. It is probably endemic to this region.

Description

The broad-bladed tree sponge may grow to 20 cm in height and be 2–4 cm thick. It is a massive erect sponge, having broad flat blades extending from a small stalk. It has a slightly hairy texture, but is smooth in appearance. It is bright red in colour.

Habitat

This sponge lives on rocky reefs in 15-272m of water.

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. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9

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