Elephant ear sponge

Ianthella basta

''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.
Elephant Ear Sponge (Ianthella basta) Diver's Lodge House Reef, Lembeh.
A zoom in on the sponge surface can be seen in this goby spotting:
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/64252/michels_ghost_goby_pleurosicya_micheli.html Geotagged,Ianthella basta,Indonesia,Spring

Appearance

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.
Elephant ear sponge - Ianthella basta In yellow. Elephant ear sponge,Fall,Geotagged,Ianthella basta,Indonesia

Distribution

The elephant ear sponge is found in the Indo-Pacific region including Indonesia and the Great Barrier Reef. It is found on coral reefs in areas with rapid water flows.
Elephant Ear Sponge  Elephant Ear Sponge,Ianthella basta,Indonesia,Komodo

Habitat

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

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

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionPorifera
ClassDemospongiae
OrderVerongida
FamilyLanthellidae
GenusLanthella
SpeciesI. basta
Photographed in
Indonesia