Potato
sponge
Biemna sp.*
Family Desmacellidae
updated
Jul 2020
Where
seen? Like a potato with eyes, this buried sponge is found on some of our
shores near reefs.
Features: Spherical, oval or irregular lumpy, 10-30cm,
usually buried with only chimneys sticking out of the surface. Chimneys
about 1cm in diameter, 1-2cm tall. The surface is uneven and very
hairy which traps sediments and sand, camouflaging the sponge. Colour
pale brown. |
Terumbu Pempang
Tengah, Jul 10 |
Terumbu Hantu,
Apr 12 |
Beting Bronok,
Jun 12 |
*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience
of display.
Potato
sponges on Singapore shores |
Other sightings on Singapore shores |
East Coast Park, Jul 20
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook. |
Terumbu Raya, Mar 16
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on facebook. |
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Links
- Biemna
on SeaLife Base: technical fact sheets.
- Biemna
on the World Porifera Database.
References
- Lim Swee
Cheng, Nicole de Voogd and Tan Koh Siang. 2008. A
Guide to Sponges of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre.
173pp.
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