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Demospongiae > Verongida > Aplysinidae > Aplysina insularis

Observed Characteristics:

Color:

yellow
orange

Morphology:

branching
bushy
massive
tube

Consistency:

tough

Sample Locations:

Bahamas

Species Description and Notes

Notes: Lower and usually smaller tubes than in Aplysina fistularis (Pallas, 1766), also pictured here; usually crowned with branchelets. It prefers shallow reefs and lagoon and tidal channels environments, but can also be seen in reefs. In the Bahamas it may be an ecophenotypic form of A. fistularis, but there appears to be a distinct species elsewhere in the Caribbean and in Brazil, whose name may need to be evaluates.

Author Reference: (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864)

 

Link: World Porifera Database

 

Images

Aplysina insularis


Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Great Abaco
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Great Abaco
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Little San Salvador
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Little San Salvador
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea

Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea