Niphatidae Family of Dermosponges

One Dermosponge of the Niphatidae Family can be found in this website:

Texotli Blue Sponge, Amphimedon texotli sp. nov. A representative of the Niphatidae Family of Dermosponges.

Phylogeny:  Niphatid Sponges  of the Niphatidae Family of Dermosponges  belong to the phylum Porifera.  They are in the Class Demospongiae, the subclass Heteroscleromorpha,  and the order Haploscerida. The Niphatidae Family is one of six families in that order. The Niphatidae Family contains nine genera and around one hundred sixty-seven species. The Niphatidae Family derives its name from the genus Niphates, which comes from the Greek words meaning “snowy” or “snow covered”. Perhaps this name describes the appearance of sponges within that genus. Specie in this family are also commonly called Niphatids. Niphatids are simple organisms, however classifying them is quite complex and is generally not conducive to use in the field. The architectural structure and chemical composition of the internal skeleton is key to classification.

Morphology: Niphatid Sponges may be branching, encrusting, lump-like, fan-shaped, or vase-shaped in structure.  They often have a chimney-like osculum (large excurrent pore). They are stiff or resilient in texture, and maybe hard or brittle. The outer surface may be ridged, rough, smooth, strongly spiny or tuberculate. They lack internal organs and a nervous system. Sponges are multi-cellular animals with tiny pores in their outer wall. Water is drawn through these pores and then circulated through cells within the body, before being expelled through larger openings. This water flow provides oxygen and nutrients, and removes wastes as it passes through the body cells. The water is moved by the beating of flagella, which line the surface of chambers that are connected by canals. Adult sponges have a base that attaches to hard surfaces. Niphatids are generally not as colorful as other demosponges. They are however, often found in bright colors including: blue, orange, green, purple, red or yellow. Niphatid Sponges reach a maximum of 2.0 m (6 feet 7 inches) in height.

Habitat and Distribution: Niphatid Sponges are found on hard surfaces such as coral, rock, shells, and man made structures and debris. They generally live in shallow, sunlit water, but some live at depths exceeding  2,800 m (9,184 feet). Niphatids are found worldwide in polar to tropical seas. At least five species from this family are found in Mexican waters.

Reproduction:  Niphatid Sponges are simultaneous hermaphrodites ( having both male and female sex organs). Reproduction is sexual and is done via 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.

Ecosystem Roles:  Niphatids feed by filtering plankton from the surrounding water. Some species can use their spicules to capture small crustaceans. The sharp spicules of sponges deter many predators, and some species are toxic. Even with these defenses, sponges fall prey to crustaceans, echinoderms, fish, sea slugs and Hawksbill Sea Turtles.  Some sponge species travel, very slowly, for short distances, while others are completely sessile. Niphatids, are of interest to medical researchers because they contain bioactive compounds such as acetogenins, complex alkaloids, macrolides, and terpenoids which have exhibited antitumor and antiviral properties.