Cone Sponge
Ciocalypta penicillus
Also known as: Brush Sponge, Marine Sponge, Pacific Sponge, Siliceous Sponge, Tapered Chimney Sponge, Tropical Marine Sponge, White Finger Sponge, White Pencil Sponge
- Brush Sponge
- Marine Sponge
- Pacific Sponge
- Siliceous Sponge
- Tapered Chimney Sponge
- Tropical Marine Sponge
- White Finger Sponge
- White Pencil Sponge
Overview
Found singly or in colonies, buried in gravel, rock, and sandy areas, of the reef.
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.
How to identify
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Indo-Pacific, Northeast Atlantic
- Country only · 5
Found singly or in colonies, buried in gravel, rock, and sandy areas, of the reef.
Adult photos 5
Discussion
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Deep dive
Taxonomy
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumPorifera
- classDemospongiae
- orderSuberitida
- familyHalichondriidae
- genusCiocalypta
- speciesCiocalypta penicillus Bowerbank, 1862
SourcesWoRMSSeaLifeBase
More in the family
Suberitida
