Ianthella basta

Ianthella basta
Elephant ear sponge
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Verongida
Family: Ianthellidae
Genus: Ianthella
Species: I. basta
Binomial name
Ianthella basta
Pallas, 1766
Synonyms
  • Spongia basta Pallas, 1766
  • Spongia grossa Esper, 1794 [1]

Ianthella basta or elephant ear sponge is a species of fan-shaped sponge in the class Demospongiae. It is also known as the paper sponge or scroll sponge.[2]

Sponges are marine invertebrates with a jellylike mesohyl sandwiched between two layers of cells. They are filter feeders maintaining a flow of water through their structure which passes out through large openings called oscula. They have a fragile skeleton of stiff spicules.

Distribution

The elephant ear sponge is found in the Indo-Pacific region including Indonesia and the Great Barrier Reef.[1] It is found on coral reefs in areas with rapid water flows.[2]

Ecology

The sea cucumber Synaptula lamperti is closely associated with the sponge and makes use of certain nutrients exuded by it.[3]

Research is being undertaken on various metabolites and other biologically active constituents that are synthesized by the sponge.[4][5]

References

  1. 1 2 World Register of Marine Species
  2. 1 2 Saltcorner
  3. ↑ Exploitation of sponge exudates by coral reef holothuroids
  4. ↑ Brominated tyrosine-derived metabolites from the sponge Ianthella basta
  5. ↑ Isolation and structure of hemibastadinols 1-3 from the Papua New Guinea marine sponge Ianthella basta


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