Callyspongia vaginalis

Callyspongia vaginalis
Callyspongia vaginalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Haplosclerida
Family: Callyspongiidae
Genus: Callyspongia
Species: C. vaginalis
Binomial name
Callyspongia vaginalis
(Lamarck, 1814)

Callyspongia vaginalis, known as the branching vase sponge is a demosponge.[1]

This species is frequently colonized by Parazoanthus parasiticus, a colonial anenome, and Ophiothrix suensonii, a brittle star.[1] It feeds on plankton and detritus.[1] The color of C. vaginalis is variable, ranging from lavender to brownish-gray to greenish-gray and sometimes light tan.[2]

C. vaginalis usually has a tubular growth pattern, although the magnitude of the current affects its growth form.[1] The long, erect tubes taper slightly and have a wide vent up to 2.5 cm in diameter with a thin wall.[2] The sponge has very elastic tubes that vary in length and can stand singly or with other tubes.[1] The sponge is rough with its irregular pits and nubs covering its surface.[1] The species is found on hard surfaces, usually reef plateaus and deep reef slopes.[1]

It lives in the area of the Caribbean, Florida, Bermuda, and the Bahamas.[1] It grows at a temperature of 20°-24°C.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Erhardt, Harry; Horst Moosleitner, Hans A Baensch, Gero W. Fisher (1997). Baensch Marine Atlas Vol. 2. MERGUS. p. 93. ISBN 3882440546. 
  2. ^ a b "Marine Species Identification Portal: Branching vase sponge (Callyspongia vaginalis)". ETI BioInformatics. http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=caribbean_diving_guide&id=443. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
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