Hyrtios erectus

Hyrtios erectus is a species of sponge in the taxonomic classification of the common sponges Demospongiae. The sponge belongs to the genus Hyrtios and belongs to the family Thorectidae. The scientific name of this species was first validly published in 1889 by Conrad Keller.

Distribution
This species is widespread in Indo-west Pacific, also in the Southern Red Sea, Papua New Guinea, Palau, New Caledonia, South China Sea, Indonesia and Queensland, South Australia.

Description
The body of this sponge consists of fibers and is able to absorb a lot of water.

Biology
These tropical hermaphroditic sponges can reach a depth range of 0 – 100 m. They are filter-feeders living attached to a substrate at base of pinnacles.