Encrusting Orange Sponge

Appearance

Spirastrella cunctatrix forms colonies that can reach up to 5 cm in diameter. They rarely get bigger. The colonies form thin, soft crusts a few millimeters thick, which are bright orange in color. On the surface there have striking strong channels, which unite in a radiating manner and converge into a common outflow opening.

This species can be confused with the similarly colored sponge Crambe crambe. The latter has a smooth surface while the former has a rough texture.

Distribution

Indo-Pacific, Mediterranean and Central Atlantic. Tropical and subtropical.

Habitat

Inhabits areas under ledges and cave walls.

Reproduction

Members of the class Demospongiae are hermaphroditic. Life cycle: The zygote develops into parenchymella larva (free-swimming) before settling down on a substrate where it grows into a young sponge.

Food

Sponges posses no nervous, digestive or excretory systems, and feed by filtering suspended bacteria and fine detritus. Strong water movement is vital to almost all, not only for carrying food to these sessile creatures but also to carry waste/unused matter away. In fact, a sponge the size of a baseball can filter about fifty gallons of water per hour!