False Pumpkin Sponge

Clionaopsis platei

False Pumpkin Sponge

An encrusting sponge that coats rocky walls from the surface down to about 30 metres, the false pumpkin sponge sits on everything from vertical faces to flat ledges. Its own surface becomes a foothold for algae and bryozoans that settle and grow across it.

Taxonomy: Animalia › Porifera › Demospongiae › Clionaida › Clionaidae › Clionaopsis

Species data via the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), AphiaID 170489.

FAQ

How deep does the False Pumpkin Sponge live?
The False Pumpkin Sponge (Clionaopsis platei) is typically found at 0–32 m.
Is the False Pumpkin Sponge dangerous to divers?
The False Pumpkin Sponge is harmless to divers.