Tethya aurantium

Tethya aurantium, also known as the golf ball sponge or orange puffball sponge, is a species of sea sponge belonging to the family Tethyidae.^[1] It is spherical in shape, with a warty surface, and grows to about 10 cm in diameter. Oscula are present on the upper surface. The surface has sharp protruding spicules which can cause skin irritation if touched.^[2]

Tethya aurantium
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Porifera
Class:	Demospongiae
Order:	Tethyida
Family:	Tethyidae
Genus:	Tethya
Species:	T. aurantium
Binomial name
Tethya aurantium (Pallas, 1766)
Synonyms
List Alcyonium aurantium Pallas, 1766 Alcyonium lyncurium Linnaeus, 1767 Amniscos morum (Schmidt, 1862) Donatia lyncurium (Linnaeus, 1767) Spongia verrucosa sensu Montagu, 1814 Tethea lyncurium (Linnaeus, 1767) Tethya aurantia (Pallas, 1766) [lapsus] Tethya limski Müller & Zahn, 1968 Tethya lyncurium (Linnaeus, 1767) Tethya morum Schmidt, 1862 Tethyum lyncurium (Linnaeus, 1767)

It is found in the Mediterranean Sea and North Eastern Atlantic Ocean,^[1] and from southern Namibia round the southern African coast to KwaZulu-Natal, usually on shallow reefs.^[2] They are also found from Southeastern Alaska to central Baja California, from low intertidal to 1,460 feet (440 m). ^[3]

It was first described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1766 as Alcyonium aurantium.^[1][4]

Biology

Unlike most other species of sponges, the openings known as osculum are difficult to see with the naked eye. The surface of their body carries pores known as ostia, where they filter water to catch microscopic plankton with flagella. ^[3]

References

1. Van Soest RW, Boury-Esnault N, Hooper JN, Rützler K, de Voogd NJ, de Glasby BA, Hajdu E, Pisera AB, Manconi R, Schoenberg C, Janussen D, Tabachnick KR, Klautau M, Picton B, Kelly M, Vacelet J (eds.). "Tethya aurantium (Pallas, 1766)". World Porifera database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
2. Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0
3. "Orange Puffball Sponge". Monterey Bay Aquarium. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
4. P. S. Pallas (1766), Elenchus zoophytorum sistens generum adumbrationes generaliores et specierum cognitarum succintas descriptiones, cum selectis auctorum synonymis (in Latin), p. 357, doi:10.5962/BHL.TITLE.6595, Wikidata Q54674408