Stove-pipe sponge

Aplysina archeri

(Higgin, 1875)

Code

Summary

Tubes are long, slender, thin, and soft-walled. Tubes may become 150 cm long. Exterior, shades of lavender, shades of gray or brown. Tubes' interiors often cream colored, but may be lighter shade of exterior color. Inner diameter about 10 cm. Grow as solitary specimens or in clusters.

To be confused with

- Branching Tube Sponge Aiolochroia crassa

Characteristics

Size: Large tubes, up to 150 cm, max 180 cm. Diameter of 10 cm near the end.

Colour: Conspicuous pink or purplish gray. The tubes' interiors often cream coloured, but always lighter than the exterior colour.

Shape: Large tubes, up to 150 cm long and a diameter of 10 cm near the end. Often in large groups of up to 22 tubes, which normally are in contact with each other only at their base.

Consistency: Tough.

Habitat environment and ecology

Reefs and walls from 15 to 30 meters.

Distribution range

BES-eilanden: Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius

Author

[Niels Schrieken, May 2015]; [Marion Haarsma 2016]

Literature

- Humann, P., & DeLoach, N. (2002). Reef Creature Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas (p. 420). Jacksonville (FL): New World Publications.

- Interactive Guide to Caribbean Diving. M. De Kluijver, G. Gijswijt, R. de Leon & I. da Cunda.

- The Sponge Guide. S. Zea, Henkel, T.P., and Pawlik, J.R. 2014.

- Thacker, R. W., Díaz, M. C., De Voogd, N. J., Van Soest, R. W., Freeman, C. J., Mobley, A. S., ... & McKenna, S. (2010). Preliminary assessment of sponge biodiversity on Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles. PloS one, 5(5), e9622. - Sponges Saba Bank

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