The Golden Sponge (Aplysina aerophoba) is a tube-forming or encrusting sponge, usually yellow, and found in the shallow areas of the Mediterranean sea and also the eastern Atlantic ocean. It is usually found in sunlit locations, making it easy to separate it from the Yellow sponge. At the center of the flattened end or top are exhalant pores or small oscula. When taken out of the water, it turns dark blue-black. The Golden sponge has a firm and rubbery texture. This sponge is a filter feeder and is also hermaphrodite. It has a massive base, from which irregular tubular digitations erupt.
The Golden Sponge has an overall cluster diameter between 11.8”-39.4” (30-100 cm) and height of 7.9”-11.8” (20-30 cm). The typical diameters of the individual tubes are in the range of 1”-2.4” (2.5-6 cm).
The Golden Sponge (Aplysina aerophoba) is a tube-forming or encrusting sponge, usually yellow, and found in the shallow areas of the Mediterranean sea and also the eastern Atlantic ocean. It is usually found in sunlit locations, making it easy to separate it from the Yellow sponge. At the center of the flattened end or top are exhalant pores or small oscula. When taken out of the water, it turns dark blue-black. The Golden sponge has a firm and rubbery texture. This sponge is a filter feeder and is also hermaphrodite. It has a massive base, from which irregular tubular digitations erupt.
The Golden Sponge has an overall cluster diameter between 11.8”-39.4” (30-100 cm) and height of 7.9”-11.8” (20-30 cm). The typical diameters of the individual tubes are in the range of 1”-2.4” (2.5-6 cm).
