Aplysinidae Family of Sea Sponges

One Sea Sponge fo the Aplysinidae Family can be found in this website:

Stovepipe Sponge, Aplysina archeri. A representative of the Aplysinidae Family of Sea Sponges.

Phylogeny: Sea Sponges of the Aplysinidae Family are members of the phylum Porifera, the class Demospongiae. Demosponges are asymmetrical aquatic animals with skeletons made of spongin fibers, siliceous spicules, or both. More than eighty percent of sponges worldwide are in this class. The Aplysinidae Family is one of five families in the order Verongiida. The Aplysinidae Family contains three genera and fifty species. The name Aplysinidae comes from the Greek words meaning “without a shield”. Species in the Aplysinidae Family are also commonly known as Aplysinids.

Morphology: As members of the order Verongiida, Aplysinid Sponges have a fibrous skeleton made of interconnected, polygonal meshes. They lack the silicate skeleton of other sponges. They may grow in massive, tubular, or branching (ramose) forms. They are firm, rubbery, and slippery. The exterior may be smooth, ridged, or bumpy. Sponges in this family tend to be yellow, green, or brown in color. Species within this family range in size from 3 cm (1.1 inch) in height to tubular forms reaching 1.5 m (4 feet 11 inches) in height and 7.6 cm (3.0 inches) in diameter. Branching forms can have branches reaching 60 cm (2 feet 0 inches) long and 3.0 cm (1.1 inches) wide.

Habitat and Distribution: Aplysinid Sponges are generally found growing on hard substrates such as rocks and reefs at depths between 2 m (6 feet) and 50 m (160 feet). They are sometimes found on vertical surfaces. They have a limited capacity for surge or other water movement so they are usually found in calm waters. They can also grow in brackish waters. These sponges are found worldwide in subtropical to tropical seas. At least ten species from the Aplysinidae Family are found in Mexican waters.

Reproduction:  Aplysinid Sponges are simultaneous hermaphrodites (having both male and female reproductive organs). They can reproduce sexually and asexually. Asexual reproduction occurs when the parent breaks down to release gemmules and begin budding. Sexual reproduction occurs through spermcast spawning. Spermcast spawning involves releasing sperm into water, while retaining the eggs. The eggs are then fertilized internally. The embryos develop in brood chambers until they reach a certain size, then disperse as planktonic parenchymella larvae. These larvae are free swimming, until they settle down on hard substrate where they  grow into a young sponges.

Ecosystem Roles:   Aplysinid Sponges are filter feeders that pump water through their body wall and filter out plankton and suspended organic matter. The water enters the body through the pores and is expelled through the osculi. In doing so, they filter the water around them and recycle organic matter to higher trophic levels. They are preyed upon by crabs, fish, shelled gastropods, nudibranchs, lobsters, sea stars, sea turtles, and sea urchins. These sponges often host fish and crustaceans in mutualistic relationships.