Pseudoceratina
| Pseudoceratina | |
|---|---|
| Pseudoceratina crassa, also called the Branching Tube Sponge | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Demospongiae |
| Order: | Verongiida |
| Family: | Pseudoceratinidae |
| Genus: | Pseudoceratina Carter, 1885 |
| Species | |
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Pseudoceratina is a genus of sponge within the family Pseudoceratinidae. They are characterized by possession of a dendritic fiber skeleton lacking laminar bark but containing pith. They have been found in a variety of habitats including the Great Barrier reef (Queensland, Australia), the Red Sea, and Jamaica. Sponges of this genus have a microbiome known to produce a variety of chemicals that are used in pharmaceutical and anti-fouling activities. Notably, a species in this genus produces a chemical that is effective in inhibiting the migration of metastatic breast cancer cells.