Branching Tube Sponge

Aiolochroia crassa

Also known as: Encrusting Sponge, Marine Sponge, Siliceous Sponge, Tube Sponge, Tubular Sponge, Pseudoceratina crassa

ALSO KNOWN AS

Encrusting Sponge
Marine Sponge
Siliceous Sponge
Tube Sponge
Tubular Sponge
Pseudoceratina crassa

Branching Tube Sponge adult, photographed at Sandals Negril, Jamaica — @Butz2010 · Sandals Negril, Jamaica · March 20121 / 1

Overview

Found over ledges, slopes and walls, of coral and rocky reefs. Varies in colour.

Sponges 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.

How to identify

COLOURS

Body shape: bumps holes tubes

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

Habitat & where to find it

Range · Western Central Atlantic, Caribbean
Country only · 1

LIVES IN

Found over ledges, slopes and walls, of coral and rocky reefs.

RANGE

Adult photos 1

Discussion

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ALL STAGES

FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

Deep dive

Taxonomy

kingdomAnimalia
phylumPorifera
classDemospongiae
orderVerongiida
familyPseudoceratinidae
genusAiolochroia
speciesAiolochroia crassa (Hyatt, 1875)

SourcesWoRMS