| Spirastrella coccinea | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Demospongiae |
| Order: | Clionaida |
| Family: | Spirastrellidae |
| Genus: | Spirastrella |
| Species: | S. coccinea |
| Binomial name | |
| Spirastrella coccinea | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Spirastrella coccinea is a species of marine sponge in the family Spirastrellidae. It is found in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Spirastrella coccinea is a thin encrusting sponge, less than 10 mm (0.4 in) thick, forming patches of a square metre or more, covering the substrate. The oscula (holes through which water leaves the sponge) are often raised on low mounds and are up to 2 mm (0.1 in) in diameter; transparent star-shaped canals radiate from the oscula. The texture of the sponge is smooth and leathery, red on the surface and brownish-red or orange on the interior. [2] Sponges in shallow water are orangish-red while those at greater depths are red or pink, sometimes with white specks near the oscula. The spicules that stiffen the sponge and form the skeleton are tylostyles, rods with one end pointed and the other knobbed, and there are also microscleres in the tissues, but no spongin fibres. [3]
Spirastrella coccinea is found in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the tropical western Atlantic Ocean as far south as Brazil. It grows on hard substrates, coral reefs and coral rubble at depths down to about 15 m (50 ft), and has been found in a submarine cave as well as among mangrove roots. [2] [3]
Being soft-bodied, sessile organisms that lack physical defences, sponges have developed chemical defences to protect them from predation. Many of these compounds are bioactive and are of interest in pharmaceutical research.[ citation needed ] A novel mitotic inhibitor macrolide known as "Sprirastrellolide A" has been isolated from Spirastrella coccinea. The methyl ester of Sprirastrellolide A has the unusual biological property of causing cells to start dividing when they are at other stages of the cell cycle, before stopping them dividing partway through the process. [4] Another macrolide, "Sprirastrellolide B", has also been isolated and its structure elucidated. [5] Since then, five further macrolides, "Sprirastrellolide C to G" have been found in extracts of the sponge, their structures being elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and chemical means. [6]
Arturia canariensis, commonly known as the yellow calcareous sponge, is a species of sponge in the family Clathrinidae. It is found in shallow seas in the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, the Adriatic Sea and the Caribbean Sea. The specific epithet "canariensis" was given to this species because it was first described from Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.
Amphimedon is a genus of sponges with over 60 described species. In 2009, Amphimedon queenslandica was the first species of sponge to have its genome sequenced.
Amphimedon compressa, the erect rope sponge, red tree sponge, red tubular sponge, or red sponge is a demosponge found in southern Florida, the Caribbean Sea, and the Bahamas. It can be deep red, orange, brown, or black.
Ptilocaulis is a genus of demosponges. The species within this genus are usually red or orange. They are often called tree sponges, as they grow many branches from a single stem resembling trees. They can grow to large size.
Tectitethya crypta is a species of demosponge belonging to the family Tethyidae. Its classified family is characterized by fourteen different known genera, one of them being Tectitethya. It is a massive, shallow-water sponge found in the Caribbean Sea. This sponge was first discovered by Werner Bergmann in 1945 and later classified by de Laubenfels in 1949. It is located in reef areas situated on softer substrates such as sand or mud. Oftentimes, it is covered in sand and algae. This results in an appearance that is cream colored/ gray colored; however, when the animal is washed free of its sediment coverings, its body plan appears more green and gray. It's characterized with ostia peaking out of its body cavity, with the ability to abruptly open or close, changing its desired water flow rate through its mesohyl.
Agelas is a genus of sea sponge in the class Demospongiae.
Neofibularia nolitangere, commonly known as the touch-me-not sponge, is a species of sea sponge in the family Biemnidae. It is found in shallow waters in the Western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
Aplysina insularis, commonly known as the yellow-green candle sponge or yellow candle sponge, is a species of sea sponge found on reefs in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
Agelas flabelliformis, also known as the elephant ear sponge, is a species of demosponge. It takes the form of a large leathery slender flap and is found in the Caribbean area at depths down to 100 metres (330 ft).
Plexaurella nutans, the giant slit-pore sea rod, is a tall species of soft coral in the family Plexauridae. It is a relatively uncommon species and is found in shallow seas in the Caribbean region.
Niphatidae is a family of demosponges in the order Haplosclerida, first described in 1980 by Rob van Soest. It contains the following genera:
Neopetrosia proxima is a species of marine petrosiid sponge native to the tropical and subtropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean.
Neopetrosia subtriangularis is a species of marine petrosiid sponges native to the waters off Florida and the Caribbean Sea. They superficially resemble staghorn corals.
Agelas dispar is a species of demosponge in the family Agelasidae. It lives on shallow-water reefs in the Caribbean Sea and around the West Indies.
Dysidea etheria, commonly known as the ethereal sponge or heavenly sponge, is a species of lobate sponge within the class Demospongiae. This marine sponge is known for its light blue color and can be found in the Caribbean as well as off the coasts of Florida and Georgia. Like all other poriferans, D. etheria is capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction. The use of spicule collection as well as chemical defenses allows D. etheria to protect itself against predators such as the zebra doris and the orange knobby star. D. etheria is also known as a host species of the invasive brittle star Ophiothela mirabilis. Lastly, various molecular biology studies have utilized D. etheria to both study foreign particle transport in sponges and to isolate novel molecules.
Pseudoceratina is a genus of sponge within the family Pseudoceratinidae. They are characterized by possession of a dendritic fiber skeleton lacking laminar bark but containing pith. They have been found in a variety of habitats including the Great Barrier reef, the Red Sea, and Jamaica. Sponges of this genus have a microbiome known to produce a variety of chemicals that are used in pharmaceutical and anti-fouling activities. Notably, a species in this genus produces a chemical that is effective in inhibiting the migration of metastatic breast cancer cells.
Robertus Wilhelmus Maria (Rob) van Soest, born in 1946, is a Dutch marine biologist. He works at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center and is also affiliated with the University of Amsterdam. He co-authored with John N. A. Hooper Systema Porifera: A Guide to the Classification of Sponges, a standard reference for sponge classification.
Monanchora arbuscula is a species of marine demosponge in the family Crambeidae.
Monanchora is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
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