Oscarella lobularis is a species of sponge in the order Homosclerophorida. It is native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, where it forms encrusting colonies on rocks and other hard surfaces.
Fi
Filter feederOm
OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
Se
SedentarySedentary animals lead such a type of lifestyle in which little to or no physical activity is done. These are mostly marine bottom-dwelling animals...
Ov
OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
No
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
O
starts withOscarella lobularis is an encrusting sponge that forms a thick layer of soft, gelatinous consistency with a velvety surface, on rocks, stones and large seaweeds. Colonies are up to 30 cm (12 in) wide and 3 cm (1.2 in) thick, with an irregularly lobed surface. The sides of the nodular lobes have a scattering of ostia through which water passes into the sponge, and at the top of each, a single round osculum up to 1 cm (0.4 in) in diameter, through which water exits. This sponge has neither spicules nor spongin fibres in its tissues. It is usually some shade of yellow or brown but can occasionally be red, violet, green or blue, often with a cream-coloured base layer.
Like other sponges, Oscarella lobularis is a filter feeder. Water is drawn into the interior of the sponge through the ostia, the bacteria and organic particles on which the sponge feeds are filtered out, and the surplus water is expelling through the osculi. This sponge is a hermaphrodite; ciliated larvae known as parenchymella larvae are liberated into the water and soon settle on the substrate and undergo metamorphosis into the adult form.
This sponge can reproduce asexually. Colonies growing under overhangs can develop elongations that become shaped like tear-drops, dangle on threads of tissue and eventually detach, landing on the seabed below and growing into new colonies; the sponge has also been observed to develop bubble-like buds on its external surface which become detached and, being buoyant, are dispersed by currents in the water column and rapidly grow into new colonies.
