Misc Sponges - Aplysina Fistularis Single Tube #51206

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2 d x 6.25 h

Aplysina fistularis consists of tube-like structures that arise from a base. Each tube is rarely over 30 centimeters in clear water but can reach 50 centimeters in turbid-zone reefs. The sponge has wide oscula and thin walls with ridged surfaces. Unlike the related species Aplysina insularis, A. fistularis does not develop rope-like projections around its tubes, although it may show some tendrils branching off of them.

Color:  The colour is yellowish brown and in deeper water changes to an intense greenish yellow because the surface layers of the sponge fluoresce in the blue (only) light that penetrates this far into the water. If bruised or removed from the water, this sponge turns dark purple or black, exuding a substance that can stain a person's skin, leaving a mark that is difficult to eradicate.

Habitat: Aplysina fistularis occurs in Bermuda, Florida, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, the Greater Antilles, the Caribbean Sea, the northern half of the Gulf of Mexico and northern Brazil. It is a moderately deep water species and occurs down to about 40 meters (130 ft) on reefs, particularly the outer reef slopes and on vertical walls.