| Toxic finger-sponge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Red branches ofNegombata magnifica | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Demospongiae |
| Order: | Poecilosclerida |
| Family: | Podospongiidae |
| Genus: | Negombata |
| Species: | N. magnifica |
| Binomial name | |
| Negombata magnifica (Keller, 1889) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Negombata magnifica, commonly known astoxic finger-sponge, is aspecies ofsponge found from theRed Sea and the Indian Ocean. Its reddish-brown narrow crooked branches can grow up to 70 centimetres (28 in).Negombata magnifica is extremely toxic because of thetoxinlatrunculin.[1][2][3]
Negombata magnifica lives on shallow coral reefs in the northern waters of the Red Sea . Unlike many other species of sponges that live in abundance in these waters, preferring to grow between corals and rocks, or under them,Negombata magnifica grows in sight. The local fish won't touch it so it doesn't get damaged. When touched, it releases a strongly smelling, reddish juice, which instantaneously makes all the fish flee away.
Negombata magnifica is grown artificially to harvest latrunculin.
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