Callyspongia aculeata
species of sponge
Callyspongia (Cladochalina) aculeata, commonly known as the branching vase sponge is a species of sea sponge in the family Callyspongiidae. Poriferans are typically characterized by ostia, pores that filter out plankton, with an osculum as the opening which water leaves through, and choanocytes trap food particles.
This species is frequently colonized by Umimayanthus parasiticus, a colonial anemone, and Ophiothrix suensonii, a brittle star. It feeds on plankton and detritus. The color of C. aculeata is variable, ranging from red to orange, lavender to brownish-gray, greenish-gray, and sometimes light tan.
Defining Traits
Callyspongia aculeata usually has a tubular growth pattern, although the magnitude of the current affects its growth form. The dominant morphotypes are tubular elongated and tubular vaciform. The long, erect tubes taper slightly and have a wide vent up to 2.5 cm in diameter with a thin wall. The sponge has very elastic tubes that vary in length and can stand singly or with other tubes. The sponge is rough with its irregular pits and nubs covering its surface.
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This entry incorporates text from “Callyspongia aculeata” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.