Axos cliftoni
Erect, digitate branching sponge, red or orange alive, specialised conules over smooth surface, oscules not apparent, texture firm, incompressible, with axial condensation. Characterised microscopically by presence of euasters with large spines.
Morphology
Erect branches with axial stalk, difficult to differentiate from A. flabelliformis except for microsclere complement.
Behaviour
Sessile filter feeder.
Method of reproduction
Sexual oviparous with parenchymella larvae.
Habitat
Marine
This species has a restricted distribution, found only in the Pilbara, and not north of the Port Hedland area.
Distribution
North western Australia from Red Bluff, southern Ningaloo to Port Hedland.
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Demospongiae |
| Subclass: | Heteroscleromorpha |
| Order: | Tethyida |
| Family: | Hemiasterellidae |
| Genus: | Axos |
| Species: | cliftoni |
| Name Published Year: | 1867 |
|---|---|
| Rank: | species |
| Scientific Name Authorship: | Gray |
| Commercial Impact: | None |
| Conservation Assessment: | Least Concern |
Cite this page
Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/names/axos-cliftoni
Accessed 1 Sep 2023
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