Blue-finger Sponge (Amphimedon sp.)

Also known as Marine Sponge, Pacific Sponge, Siliceous Sponge, Tropical Marine Sponge, Vase Sponge

Description

Also known as Marine Sponge, Pacific Sponge, Siliceous Sponge, Tropical Marine Sponge, Vase Sponge.

Found in deep water gullies on slopes and terraces of coral and rocky reef.
They feed on plankton.
Length - 45cm
Depth - 10-40m
Widespread Indo-Pacific

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: x

1 comment

  1. Posted by Dr Raymond J RITCHIE

    I can vouch for the toxicity of Amphimedon. We collected a small piece from a colleague's pearl farm yesterday. Killed everything in the collection bucket with it in less than 1 hr. Specimen was only about 10 cm long. Do not collect except by itself and never get the bright idea of putting it into a marine aquarium. Do not risk handling it without surgical gloves. I thought didenmids were bad!

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