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sponges
text index | photo
index
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| Phylum Porifera |
| Daisy
sponge Coelocarteria singaporensis* Family Isodictyidae updated Dec 10 Where seen? This strange sponge is sometimes seen on many of our shores, growing on and among coral rubble as well as on rocks which are submerged even at low tide. It is considered one of the most commonly encountered sponges on our shores. It is one of the few sponges that was described from Singapore, hence its species name. Features: About 20cm in diameter. There is usually one or two large hollow cones (to 2cm in diameter), encircled by upright long 'fingers' (up to 15cm tall). These fingers are generally unbranched with flattened or rounded tips, and they don't have any large holes. With some imagination, it does resemble a daisy, doesn't it? There may be creeping buried 'rhizomes' extending along the ground from the sponge with fingers sticking up from these horizontal stems. Colours include bright yellow, brownish, maroon, greenish and black. |
 Creeping 'rhizomes' sometimes extending from the sponge. Labrador, Jun 08 |
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 Labrador, Jun 08 |
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 Labrador, Feb 06 |
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Daisy sponges on Singapore shores
 Pulau Semakau, Jan 05 |
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 Pulau Semakau, Aug 11 |
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 Labrador, Jul 05  This is possibly Oceanapia sp. and NOT a Daisy sponge |
 Sisters Island, Jul 06  |
 Terumbu Pempang Darat, Jun 10  Fingers sticking up from horizontal stem. |
more
photos of daisy sponges on Singapore shores
northern shores
southern shores part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5
northern shores
southern shores part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5
*Sponge
species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.
References
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Sea Challengers. 314pp.|
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