Tethya aurantium (Pallas, 1766)
Ball sponge
Tethya aurantium
photo by Ferreira, Vasco Manuel

Family:  Tethyidae ()
Max. size: 
Environment:  sessile; marine
Distribution:  Northeast Atlantic and Indo-West Pacific.
Diagnosis:  Rounded elevations and depressions on surface, with elevations echinated by the spicules. Tesselation absent. Megasclere: rounded base; apex usually blunt but sometimes sharp; styli faintly tylote, no oxea nor strongyla. Microsclere: very small chiasters; larger and more massive spherasters. Chiasters are most abundant at the surface, forming a close layer, rays: 6 to 9. Spherasters rarely spined; unevenly scattered through the ectosome; rare in the choanosome.
Biology:  Known from rock pools (Ref. 88951).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans: 
Country info:   
 

Source and more info: www.sealifebase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.