Mud Sponge [Thenea muricata]
Description
Thenea muricata, commonly known as the Mud sponge, is a species of deep-sea demosponge known for its mound-like shape and spiny surface. The sponge is usually reddish-brown, and can grow up to 20 cm in diameter. It lives in the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, predominantly in muddy habitats at depths of 500 to 3000 meters. It is a filter feeder, and its spines are thought to help deter predators.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Sponges
Porifera
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Demospongiae
Demospongiae
|
| Order |
Tetractinellida
Tetractinellida
|
| Family |
Stony Sponges
Pachastrellidae
|
| Genus |
Thenea
Thenea
|