SPONGES
Some basic sponge structure Asconoid LeuconoidSyconoid Increasing surface area for same volume
Structure of the sponge wall
Unique features Choanocytes Spicules
CalcareousSiliceous Collagen (= spongin)
Spicules form a meshwork for support
Sponge Classification PhylumClassCharacteristics PoriferaCalcarea-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 ” GenusCommon Name 17Pseudoceratina-branching tube sponge 17Pseudoceratina-branching tube sponge 17Pseudoceratina-branching tube sponge 19Aplysina-Stove pipe sponge 21Aplysina-yellow tube sponge 21Aplysina-yellow tube (shallow) sponge 25Callyspongia-branching vase sponge 25Callyspongia-branching vase sponge (fan) 29Xestospongia-giant barrel sponge 33Cinachyra- orange ball sponge 35Tedania-fire sponge 37Neofibrularia- touch-me-not sponge 38Aplysina-rope sponge 39Aplysina-rope sponge 57Cliona-red boring sponge Sponges you ’ ll have to know and love
Sponges - Pseudoceratina Pseudoceratina Aplysina Callyspongia Xestospongia Cinachyra Tedania Neofibrularia Aplysina Cliona Branching tube sponges
Sponges - Aplysina Pseudoceratina Aplysina Callyspongia Xestospongia Cinachyra Tedania Neofibrularia Aplysina Cliona Stovepipe/tube sponges
Sponges - Callyspongia Pseudoceratina Aplysina Callyspongia Xestospongia Cinachyra Tedania Neofibrularia Aplysina Cliona Branching vase sponges
Sponges - Xestospongia Pseudoceratina Aplysina Callyspongia Xestospongia Cinachyra Tedania Neofibrularia Aplysina Cliona Giant Barrel sponges
Sponges - Cinachyra Pseudoceratina Aplysina Callyspongia Xestospongia Cinachyra Tedania Neofibrularia Aplysina Cliona Ball sponges
Sponges - Tedania Pseudoceratina Aplysina Callyspongia Xestospongia Cinachyra Tedania Neofibrularia Aplysina Cliona Fire sponges
Sponges - Neofibrularia Pseudoceratina Aplysina Callyspongia Xestospongia Cinachyra Tedania Neofibrularia Aplysina Cliona Touch-me-not sponges
Sponges - Aplysina Pseudoceratina Aplysina Callyspongia Xestospongia Cinachyra Tedania Neofibrularia Aplysina Cliona Rope sponges
Sponges - Cliona Pseudoceratina Aplysina Callyspongia Xestospongia Cinachyra Tedania Neofibrularia Aplysina Cliona Encrusting/Boring sponges
INVERTEBRATE IDENTIFICATION
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) Annelida - segmented worms Fireworms - Hermodice
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) Annelida - segmented worms Featherduster worms - Sabellastarte
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) Annelida - segmented worms Christmas tree worms - Spirobranchus
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) Crustacea Banded coral shrimp - Stenopus hispidus
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) Crustacea Pedersen ’ s cleaner shrimp - Periclemines pedersoni
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) Crustacea Arrow crab - Stenorhynchus
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) Crustacea Caribbean Spiny lobster - Panulirus argus
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) Mollusca Caribbean Reef Squid - Sepioteuthis
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) Mollusca Common Octopus - Octopus
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) Mollusca Queen conch - Strombus gigas
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) Mollusca Flamingo tongue - Cyphoma gibbosum
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) Mollusca Lettuce Sea Slug - Elysia (Tridachia) crispata
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) Mollusca Fuzzy Chiton - Acanthopleura
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) Tunicata/Ascidia/Urochordata Painted tunicate - Clavelina
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) Tunicata/Ascidia/Urochordata Mangrove tunicate - Ecteinascidia
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) 5.Echinodermata Echinodermata - Crinoidea Golden crinoid - Davidaster
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) 5.Echinodermata Echinodermata - Crinoidea Black-and-white crinoid - Nemaster
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) 5.Echinodermata Echinodermata - Ophuroidea Brittlestar - Ophiothrix
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) 5.Echinodermata Echinodermata - Echinoidea Long-spined urchin - Diadema antillarum
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) 5.Echinodermata Echinodermata - Echinoidea West Indian sea egg - Tripneustes
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) 5.Echinodermata Echinodermata - Holothurea Donkey dung sea cucumber - Holothuria mexicana
Invertebrate Identification 1.Annelida 2.Crustacea 3.Mollusca 4.Tunicates(Urochordates) 5.Echinodermata Echinodermata - Holothurea Tiger tail sea cucumber - Holothuria thomasi
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Pomacentridae - Damselfish Dusky Damselfish3-spot DamselfishBeaugregoryBicolor Adult Juvenile All are in the genus Stegastes
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Pomacentridae - Damselfish Sergeant Major - Abudefduf Blue Chromis - Chromis
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Carangidae - jacks Bar Jack - CaranxPermit - Trachinotus Adult
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Carcharinidae - sharks Black tip reef shark -Charcharinus Nurse shark - Ginglymostoma Adult
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Dasyatidae - rays Southern sting ray -Dasyatis Adult
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Serranidae - groupers Jewfish Red grouper Red hind All are in the genus Epinelphelus Nassau grouper
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Serranidae - groupers Both are in the genus Mycertoperca Black grouper Tiger grouper
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Sphyraenidae - barracuda Sphyraena
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Parrotfish - Scaridae - Scarus Stoplight Rainbow Queen
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Parrotfish - Scaridae - Scarus Initial Phase Terminal Phase
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Balistidae - Filefish/Triggerfish Gray Triggerfish - Balistes Slender filefish - Monacanthis Whitespotted filefish - Balistes
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Tetraodontidae - Puffers Pufferfish - Sphaeriodes Balloonfish - Diodon
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Chaetodontidae - Butterfly fish Cherubfish - Centropyge Reef - Chaetodon Longsnout - Chaetodon Banded - Chaetodon Foureyed - Chaetodon Spotfin - Chaetodon
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Pomacanthidae - Angel fish Blue - HolacanthusFrench - Pomacanthus Queen - Holacanthus Juveniles
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Haemulidae - Grunts - Haemulon Bluestriped French Cottonwick Margate
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Lutjanidae - Snappers - Lutjanus Gray RedDog Mutton Schoolmaster
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Serranidae - sea basses Soapfish - RypticusLantern bass - Serranus Tobaccofish - Serranus
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Others Aulostomus - Aulostomidae - trumpet fish
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Browsers/grazers 8.Others Acanthurus - Acanthuridae Surgeonfish/Tang Gobiosoma - Gobiidae Gobies
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Browsers/grazers 8.Others Labridae - wrasses Bodianus - Spanish hogfish Clepticus - creole wrasse
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Browsers/grazers 8.Others Labridae - wrasses All are in the genus Halichoeres Bluehead Puddingwife Slippery dick juvenile
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Browsers/grazers 8.Others Holocentridae - squirrelfish All are in the genus Holocentrus Dusky squirrelfish Reef squirrelfish
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Browsers/grazers 8.Others Apogon - Apogonidae - cardinalfish
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Browsers/grazers 8.Others Ostraciidae - cowfish Spotted cowfish - Lactophrys
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Browsers/grazers 8.Others Sciaenidae - drums - Equetus Spotted drum Jacknife fish Highhat
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Browsers/grazers 8.Others Muraenidae - morays - Gymnothorax Green moraySpotted moray
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Browsers/grazers 8.Others Congridae - garden eels - Heteroconger
Fish Identification 1.Midwater invertebrate feeders 2.Midwater Piscivores 3.Large Piscivores 4.Coral Feeders 5.Benthic invertebrate feeders 6.Small fish feeders 7.Browsers/grazers 8.Others Ophichthidae - snake eels - Myrichthyes