/The Best Livestock For Your Reef Aquarium:

Sponges, Phylum Porifera, Part 6

To: Sponges Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10,

By Bob Fenner

Genus Niphates:

Niphates digitalis, the Pink Vase Sponge. Pink, blue, gray. To twelve inches in height. Bahamas and Cozumel pix. The second one acting as a host/commensal for the zoanthid Parazoanthus parasiticus.

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Niphates erecta, the Lavender Rope Sponge. Shades of lavender to pink in color. Three to six feet in height of semi-rough porous, entangled ropes. Cozumel 2017

Genus Oceanapia:

Oceanapia stalagmitica, Red Stalagmite Sponge. Dark red, smooth, thin spikes to six inches tall. No apparent osculae. Roatan 2019.

Genus Phorbas:

Phorbas amaranthus, Red Sieve Encrusting Sponge. Cozumel pic by Diana.F. Size 6-18 in. Bright red, with surface showing numerous craters (raised circular sieve like areas) and small incurrent pores around protruding excurrent openings. Reacts to touch by closing openings and pores.

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Phorbas barbadensis. Red sieve encrusting sponge. Cozumel 4/09.

Phorbas sp. Red Phorbas Sponge. Densely covered with pores and excurrent openings. Encrusts dead and live corals. Kona pix.

Genus Phyllospongia:

Phyllospongia lamellosa (Esper 1799), Fan Sponge. A rubbery like appearance and feel, plate like appearance typifies this photosynthetic species. Found on reef slopes to about 25 m. N. Sulawesi (Mike's Place, Bunaken) photo.

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The images in this table are linked to large (desktop size) copies. Click on "framed" images to go to the larger size.

To: Sponges Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10,

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