Description
Also known as Blue Sponge, Demospongiae, Lavender Stovepipe Sponge, Marine Sponge, Pink Tube Sponge, Siliceous Spong, Tube Sponge, Tubular Sponge.
Found in colonies, on ledges, around mangroves, and on walls, of coral and rocky reefs.
They feed on plankton.
Length - 500cm
Depth - 15-30m
Widespread Western Central Atlantic, Caribbean
Sponges come in a range of sizes from minuscule encrusting species under rocks to massive sponges which can be up to one and half metres high.
They are able to filter many litres of sea water every few seconds.
Sponges can exude highly toxic chemicals and so have very few predators apart from nudibranchs, sea stars, sea urchins and umbrella shell.
Their colour can vary if growing in the light or when growing in the shade. Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aplysina_archeri
5 comments
i need to know these things about the stove pipe sponge but i can't seem to find the answers. what is it's internal transport, what is its excretion, movement, and response to temperature change and predators?
This sponge will live to 200+ years!
The sponge feeds on plankton.
How long does it live
what does it eat?