Dysidea fragilis

Researched By	Sean Lindsley-Leake	Data Supplied By	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Dysidea fragilis	Common name	A sponge
MCS Code	C1667	Recent Synonyms
Phylum	Porifera	Subphylum
Superclass		Class	Demospongiae
Subclass		Order	Dictyoceratida
Suborder		Family	Dysideidea
Genus	Dysidea	Species	fragilis
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References
General Biology
Growth form	Crustose soft, Massive, Cushion	Feeding method	Active suspension feeder
Mobility/Movement	Permanent attachment	Environmental position	Epilithic
Typical food types	Fine suspended organic matter.	Habit	Attached
Bioturbator		Flexibility	Low (10-45 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Medium(11-20 cm)
Height	15cm	Growth Rate
Adult dispersal potential		Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Colonial
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information	It may be thinly encrusting or cushion to massive lobose in form. It is usually less than 15 cm across but can be greater than this in tidal, rocky estuaries.
Biology References
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	This species is widely distributed around the coasts of Britain and Ireland but rare on the north east coast of Scotland.
Global distribution	Found from north-west Europe to the Mediterranean.
Biogeographic range	Temperate.	Depth range	Insufficient information
Migratory
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Bedrock, Large to very large boulders	Physiographic preferences
Biological zone	Lower Littoral Fringe, Upper Eulittoral, Mid Eulittoral, Lower Eulittoral, Sublittoral Fringe, Upper Infralittoral, Lower Infralittoral, Upper Circalittoral, Lower Circalittoral	Wave exposure
Tidal stream strength/Water flow		Salinity
Habitat Additional Information
AMBI Group (Borja et al., 2000)	III
Distribution References
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Budding, Permanent hermaphrodite	Developmental mechanism	Lecithotrophic
Reproductive Season	June to August	Reproductive Location	Water column
Reproductive frequency	Annual episodic	Regeneration potential	Yes
Life span	Insufficient information	Age at reproductive maturity	Insufficient information
Generation time	Insufficient information	Fecundity	Insufficient information
Egg/propagule size	Insufficient information	Fertilization type	Internal
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Insufficient information Larval settlement period Insufficient information Duration of larval stage Insufficient information
Additional Information	The sperm of sponges are frequently 'broadcast' into the water column. A sponge creates and concentrates the sperm, before expelling it from the excurrent (oscula) pores. The masses of sperms thus released are sometimes so dense that the sponge appears to be smoking. The sperm are then carried by the water current towards another sponge. There, they are captured by the female cells, the choanocytes. Inside the female, the sperm are transported to eggs by special cells. Fertilization occurs, and the resulting [zygotes] [fertilised eggs] develop into [ciliated] larvae.
Reproduction References