WHATSTHATFISH
Sponges

Sea Orange

Tethya aurantium

Also known as: Ball Sponge, Demosponge, Golden Ball Sponge, Golf Ball Sponge, Marine Sponge, Orange Puffball Sponge

Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · May 20081 / 1
01

Overview

Found singly or in colonies, on drop-offs, under ledges, along slopes, and in tide-pools, of coral and rocky reefs. Varies in colour from shades of yellow to orange.

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.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Body shape
ball

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific, Northeast Atlantic
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly or in colonies, on drop-offs, under ledges, along slopes, and in tide-pools, of coral and rocky reefs.

04

Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumPorifera
    3. classDemospongiae
    4. orderTethyida
    5. familyTethyidae
    6. genusTethya
    7. speciesTethya aurantium (Pallas, 1766)

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Tethyida