SPONGES

Some basic sponge structure

Asconoid

Leuconoid Syconoid

Increasing surface area for same volume

Structure of the sponge wall

Unique features

Choanocytes

Spicules

Spicules

CalcareousSiliceous

Collagen (= spongin)

Spicules form a meshwork for support

Sponge Classification

Phylum Class Characteristics

Porifera Calcarea -CaCO3 spicules- all are marine

Hexactinellida -SiO3 spicules- 6-rayed spicules- all are marine- “glass sponges”

Demospongiae -SiO3 spicules- may have spongin- marine, brackish or fresh water

Sclerospongiae - coralline sponges-reassigned to Demospongiae and Calcarea (1985)

Page in “Reef Creatures” Genus Common Name

17 Pseudoceratina -branching tube sponge

17 Pseudoceratina -branching tube sponge

17 Pseudoceratina -branching tube sponge

19 Aplysina -Stove pipe sponge

21 Aplysina -yellow tube sponge

21 Aplysina -yellow tube (shallow) sponge

25 Callyspongia -branching vase sponge

25 Callyspongia -branching vase sponge (fan)

29 Xestospongia -giant barrel sponge

33 Cinachyra - orange ball sponge

35 Tedania -fire sponge

37 Neofibrularia - touch-me-not sponge

38 Aplysina -rope sponge

39 Aplysina -rope sponge

57 Cliona -red boring sponge

Sponges you’ll have to know and love

Sponges - PseudoceratinaPseudoceratina

Aplysina

Callyspongia

Xestospongia

Cinachyra

Tedania

Neofibrularia

Aplysina

Cliona

Branching tube sponges

Sponges - AplysinaPseudoceratina

AplysinaCallyspongia

Xestospongia

Cinachyra

Tedania

Neofibrularia

Aplysina

Cliona

Stovepipe/tube sponges

Sponges - CallyspongiaPseudoceratina

Aplysina

CallyspongiaXestospongia

Cinachyra

Tedania

Neofibrularia

Aplysina

Cliona

Branching vase sponges

Sponges - XestospongiaPseudoceratina

Aplysina

Callyspongia

XestospongiaCinachyra

Tedania

Neofibrularia

Aplysina

Cliona

Giant Barrel sponges

Sponges - CinachyraPseudoceratina

Aplysina

Callyspongia

Xestospongia

CinachyraTedania

Neofibrularia

Aplysina

Cliona

Ball sponges

Sponges - TedaniaPseudoceratina

Aplysina

Callyspongia

Xestospongia

Cinachyra

TedaniaNeofibrularia

Aplysina

Cliona

Fire sponges

Sponges - NeofibrulariaPseudoceratina

Aplysina

Callyspongia

Xestospongia

Cinachyra

Tedania

NeofibrulariaAplysina

Cliona

Touch-me-not sponges

Sponges - AplysinaPseudoceratina

Aplysina

Callyspongia

Xestospongia

Cinachyra

Tedania

Neofibrularia

AplysinaCliona

Rope sponges

Sponges - ClionaPseudoceratina

Aplysina

Callyspongia

Xestospongia

Cinachyra

Tedania

Neofibrularia

Aplysina

Cliona

Encrusting/Boring sponges

INVERTEBRATE

IDENTIFICATION

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)

Annelida - segmented worms

Fireworms - Hermodice

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)

Annelida - segmented worms

Featherduster worms - Sabellastarte

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)

Annelida - segmented worms

Christmas tree worms - Spirobranchus

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)

Crustacea

Banded coral shrimp - Stenopus hispidus

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)

Crustacea

Pedersen’s cleaner shrimp - Periclemines pedersoni

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)

Crustacea

Arrow crab - Stenorhynchus

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)

Crustacea

Caribbean Spiny lobster - Panulirus argus

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)

Mollusca

Caribbean Reef Squid - Sepioteuthis

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)

Mollusca

Common Octopus - Octopus

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)

Mollusca

Queen conch - Strombus gigas

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)

Mollusca

Flamingo tongue - Cyphoma gibbosum

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)

Mollusca

Lettuce Sea Slug - Elysia (Tridachia) crispata

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)

Mollusca

Fuzzy Chiton - Acanthopleura

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)

Tunicata/Ascidia/Urochordata

Painted tunicate - Clavelina

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)

Tunicata/Ascidia/Urochordata

Mangrove tunicate - Ecteinascidia

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)5. EchinodermataEchinodermata - Crinoidea

Golden crinoid - Davidaster

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)5. EchinodermataEchinodermata - Crinoidea

Black-and-white crinoid - Nemaster

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)5. EchinodermataEchinodermata - Ophuroidea

Brittlestar - Ophiothrix

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)5. EchinodermataEchinodermata - Echinoidea

Long-spined urchin - Diadema antillarum

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)5. EchinodermataEchinodermata - Echinoidea

West Indian sea egg - Tripneustes

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)5. EchinodermataEchinodermata - Holothurea

Donkey dung sea cucumber - Holothuria mexicana

Invertebrate Identification 1. Annelida2. Crustacea3. Mollusca4. Tunicates(Urochordates)5. EchinodermataEchinodermata - Holothurea

Tiger tail sea cucumber - Holothuria thomasi

Fish Identification 1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Others

Pomacentridae - Damselfish

Dusky Damselfish 3-spot Damselfish Beaugregory Bicolor

Adult

Juvenile

All are in the genus Stegastes

Fish Identification 1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Others

Pomacentridae - Damselfish

Sergeant Major - AbudefdufBlue Chromis - Chromis

Fish Identification 1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Others

Carangidae - jacks

Bar Jack - Caranx Permit - Trachinotus

Adult

Fish Identification 1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Others

Carcharinidae - sharks

Black tip reef shark

-Charcharinus

Nurse shark - Ginglymostoma

Adult

Fish Identification 1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Others

Dasyatidae - rays

Southern sting ray

-Dasyatis

Adult

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Others

Serranidae - groupers

Jewfish

Red grouper

Red hind

All are in the genus Epinelphelus

Nassaugrouper

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Others

Serranidae - groupers

Both are in the genus Mycertoperca

Black grouper

Tiger grouper

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Others

Sphyraenidae - barracuda

Sphyraena

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. OthersParrotfish - Scaridae - Scarus

StoplightRainbow

Queen

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. OthersParrotfish - Scaridae - Scarus

Initial Phase

Terminal Phase

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Others

Balistidae - Filefish/Triggerfish

Gray Triggerfish - Balistes

Slender filefish - Monacanthis

Whitespotted filefish - Balistes

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Others

Tetraodontidae - Puffers

Pufferfish - SphaeriodesBalloonfish - Diodon

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. OthersChaetodontidae - Butterfly fish

Cherubfish - Centropyge Reef - Chaetodon Longsnout - Chaetodon

Banded - Chaetodon Foureyed - Chaetodon Spotfin - Chaetodon

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Others

Pomacanthidae - Angel fish

Blue - Holacanthus French - Pomacanthus Queen - Holacanthus

Juveniles

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Others

Haemulidae - Grunts - Haemulon

Bluestriped French

Cottonwick Margate

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Others

Lutjanidae - Snappers - Lutjanus

Gray Red Dog

Mutton Schoolmaster

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Others

Serranidae - sea basses

Soapfish - RypticusLantern bass - Serranus

Tobaccofish - Serranus

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. OthersAulostomus - Aulostomidae

- trumpet fish

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Browsers/grazers8. Others

Acanthurus - AcanthuridaeSurgeonfish/Tang

Gobiosoma - GobiidaeGobies

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Browsers/grazers8. OthersLabridae - wrasses

Bodianus - Spanish hogfish Clepticus - creole wrasse

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Browsers/grazers8. Others

Labridae - wrasses

All are in the genus Halichoeres

Bluehead Puddingwife

Slippery dick

juvenile

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Browsers/grazers8. Others

Holocentridae - squirrelfish

All are in the genus Holocentrus

Dusky squirrelfish

Reef squirrelfish

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Browsers/grazers8. Others

Apogon - Apogonidae - cardinalfish

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Browsers/grazers8. Others

Ostraciidae - cowfish

Spotted cowfish - Lactophrys

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Browsers/grazers8. Others

Sciaenidae - drums - Equetus

Spotted drum

Jacknife fish

Highhat

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Browsers/grazers8. Others

Muraenidae - morays - Gymnothorax

Green moray Spotted moray

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Browsers/grazers8. Others

Congridae - garden eels - Heteroconger

Fish Identification1. Midwater invertebrate feeders2. Midwater Piscivores3. Large Piscivores4. Coral Feeders5. Benthic invertebrate feeders6. Small fish feeders7. Browsers/grazers8. Others

Ophichthidae - snake eels - Myrichthyes