WHATSTHATFISH
Sponges

Unguiculata Sponge

Monanchora unguiculata

Also known as: Marine Sponge, Siliceous Sponge

Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · May 20081 / 6
01

Overview

Found over coral and rocky reefs. Varies in colour.
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.

02

How to identify

Pattern
lines
Body shape
holes

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Exact location · 3
  • Country only · 3
LIVES IN

Found over coral and rocky reefs.

04

Adult photos 6

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumPorifera
    3. classDemospongiae
    4. orderPoecilosclerida
    5. familyCrambeidae
    6. genusMonanchora
    7. speciesMonanchora unguiculata (Dendy, 1922)

    SourcesWoRMS

    06

    More in the family

    Poecilosclerida