| Tethya aurantium | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Demospongiae |
| Order: | Hadromerida |
| Family: | Tethyidae |
| Genus: | Tethya |
| Species: | T. aurantium |
| Binomial name | |
| Tethya aurantium (Pallas, 1766) |
|
Tethya aurantium, the golf ball sponge, is a species of demosponge belonging to the family Tethyidae[1]. It is spherical in shape, with a warty surface, and grows to about 10cm in diameter. Oscula are present on the upper surface. The surface has sharp protruding spicules which can cause skin irritation if touched[2].
It is found from southern Namibia round the southern African coast to KwaZulu-Natal, usually on shallow reefs[2].