The sponges of

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

are a part of the Porifera fauna of

(which is part of the wildlife of Venezuela). A number of species of sponges are found in the wild in Venezuela. This is a partial list of the marine and freshwater sponges of Venezuela. The families are listed alphabetically within the classes.

Statistics

Marine sponges

Aplysina archeri (Stove-pipe Sponge-pink variation)

Family

Acarnidae Acarnidae is a family of sponges belonging to the order Poecilosclerida. It has a global distribution, although several genera occur primarily in colder temperate waters, and several have very restricted ranges. It is estimated that there are seve ...

* AcarnusSutherland, J.P. 1980: Dynamics of the epibenthic community on roots of the mangrove ''Rhizophora mangle'', at Bahia de Buche, Venezuela. Marine Biology, 58:75-84
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/ref> Family Adociidae * '' Sigmadocia caerulea'' Hechtel 1965Díaz, Humberto., Bevilacqua, Marina. y Bone, David. 1985. Esponjas del Parque Nacional Morrocoy. Fondo Editorial Acta Científica Venezolana. Caracas. 64p. Family Aplysinidae * ''

Aplysina archeri ''Aplysina archeri'', also known as a stove-pipe sponge because of its shape, is a species of tube sponge that has long tube-like structures of cylindrical shape. Although they can grow in a single tube, they often grow in large groups of up to ...

'' (Higgin, 1875)Catálogo de la colección de Porifera del Museo de Biología de la Universidad Central (MBUCV-XX)Villamizar, E. and R. A. Laughlin. 1991. Fauna associated with the sponges Aplysina archeri and Aplysina lacunosa in a coral reef of the Archipielago de Los Roques, National Park, Venezuela. Pages 522–542 in J. Reitner and H. Keupp, eds. Fossil and recent sponges. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. * '' Aplysina caissara'' Pinheiro & Hajdu, 2001Venezuelatuya.com: Esponjas Marinas por Fundación La Tortuga. http://www.venezuelatuya.com/natura/esponjasmarinas.htm * '' Aplysina cauliformis'' (Carter, 1882) * ''

Aplysina fistularis ''Aplysina fistularis'', also known as the yellow tube sponge, is a species of sea sponge in the order Verongiida. ''Aplysina fistularis'' is a golden or orange-brown color with a conulose surface. The animal is abundant in the Caribbean, where i ...

'' (Pallas, 1766)Pompa M, Luis A. y Lin, Alan L. 1980: Carotenoides de algunas demospongias (Porifera) de la Bahía de Mochima, Edo. Sucre, Venezuela. Boletín del Instituto Oceanográfico Universidad de Oriente 19(1-2):9-14.Amaro, María E. y Liñero-Arana, Ildefonso. 2002: Demospongiae (Porifera) de Isla Larga, bahía de Mochima, Venezuela. Boletín del Instituto Oceanográfico de Venezuela 41(1-2):45=53
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María Cristina Díaz and Klaus Rützler 2009: Biodiversity and abundance of sponges in Caribbean mangrove: indicators of environmental quality. Smithsonian Contributions to the Marine Sciences, 38:151-172
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* '' Aplysina fulva'' (Pallas, 1766) * '' Aplysina lacunosa'' (Lamarck, 1814) Family Callyspongiidae * '' Callyspongia arcesiosa'' Laubenfels, 1936 * '' Callyspongia vaginalis'' (Lamarck, 1814) Family Chalinidae * '' Chalinula molitba'' (Laubenfels, 1949) Family Chondrillidae * '' Chondrilla caribensis'' Rützler, Duran & Piantoni, 2007 * ''

Chondrilla nucula ''Chondrilla nucula'', sometimes called the Caribbean chicken-liver sponge, is a species of sea sponge belonging to the family Chondrillidae. It is an amorphous shaped sponge that grows in flat, sometimes bulbous sheets in benthic communities. ...

'' Smithdt 1862 Family

Clionidae The Clionidae are a family of sea angels, which are a group of pelagic marine gastropods. They resemble angels, complete with flapping "wings", hence their common name. They are gelatinous, mostly transparent pteropods, and they only have she ...

* '' Cliona raphida'' Boury-Esnault, 1973 * '' Cliona varians'' (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) Family

Coelosphaeridae Coelosphaeridae is a family of sponges belonging to the order Poecilosclerida Poecilosclerida is an order of the demosponge class. It is the most speciose demosponge order with over 2200 species (World Porifera Database). It contains about 25 ...

* '' Lissodendoryx'' Family Crambeidae * '' Monanchora arbuscula'' (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) Family Darwinellidae * '' Aplysilla glacialis'' (Merejkowski, 1878) * '' Chelonaplysilla erecta'' Tsurnamal, 1967 * '' Darwinella rosacea'' Hechtel, 1965 Family

Desmacididae Desmacididae is a family of sponges belonging to the order Poecilosclerida Poecilosclerida is an order of the demosponge class. It is the most speciose demosponge order with over 2200 species (World Porifera Database). It contains about 25 rec ...

* '' Desmapsamma anchorata'' (Carter, 1882) Family Desmacidonidae * '' Liosina monticulosa'' (Verrill, 1907) Family

Dysidea ''Dysidea'' is a genus of sponges belonging to the family Dysideidae. The genus has cosmopolitan distribution In biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is the term for the range of a taxon that extends across all or most of the world in ap ...

* '' Dysidea etheria'' Laubenfels, 1936 Family Dictyonellidae * '' Scopalina ruetzleri'' (Wiedenmayer, 1977) Family Dysideidae * '' Dysidea etheria'' Laubenfels, 1936 Family Geodiidae * '' Geodia gibberosa'' Lamarck, 1815 * '' Geodia papyracea'' Hechtel, 1965 Family Grantiidae * '' Leucandra aspera'' (Schmidt, 1862) Family Halichondriidae * '' Anthosigmella varians'' (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) * '' Halichondria magniculosa'' Hechtel * '' Halichondria melanadocia'' Laubenfels, 1936 * ''

Topsentia ophiraphidites ''Topsentia'' is a genus of sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae. The genus has cosmopolitan distribution In biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is the term for the range of a taxon that extends across all or most of the worl ...

'' (Laubenfels, 1934)Díaz, M.C.; Alvarez, B.; van Soest, R.W.M. 1987. New species of Demospongiae (Porifera) from the national park 'Archipiélago de Los Roques', Venezuela. Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde 57 (1): 31-41. Family Halicloniidae * '' Haliclona caerulea'' (Hechtel, 1965) * '' Haliclona crassiloba'' Laubenfels, 1950 * '' Haliclona curacaoensis'' (van Soest, 1980) * '' Haliclona doria'' Laubenfels, 1936 * '' Haliclona implexiformis'' (Hechtel, 1965) * '' Haliclona magnifica'' de Weerdt, Rützler & Smith, 1991 * '' Haliclona manglaris'' Alcolado, 1984 * '' Haliclona permollis'' (Bowerbank, 1866) * '' Haliclona picadaerensis'' * '' Haliclona tubifera'' (George & Wilson, 1919) * '' Haliclona twincayensis'' de Weerdt, Rützler & Smith, 1991 * '' Haliclona viridis'' (Keller, 1889) * '' Niphastes variabilis'' Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 Family Halisarcidae * '' Halisarca'' Family Heteroxyidae * '' Myrmekioderma rea'' (de Laubenfels, 1934) Family

Hymedesmiidae Hymedesmiidae is a family of demosponges in the order Poecilosclerida. Genera * ''Acanthancora'' * ''Hamigera (sponge), Hamigera'' * ''Hemimycale'' * ''Hymedesmia'' * ''Kirkpatrickia'' * ''Myxodoryx'' * ''Phorbas (sponge), Phorbas'' * ' ...

* '' Phorbas amaranthus'' Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 Family

Iotrochotidae Iotrochotidae is a family of sponges belonging to the order Poecilosclerida Poecilosclerida is an order of the demosponge class. It is the most speciose demosponge order with over 2200 species (World Porifera Database). It contains about 25 re ...

* ''

Iotrochota birotulata ''Iotrochota birotulata'', commonly known as the green finger sponge, is a species of sea sponge in the family Iotrochotidae. It is found in shallow waters in the Caribbean Sea. Description The green finger sponge usually has upright or spraw ...

'' (Higgin, 1877) Family Irciniidae * '' Irsinia fasciculata'' (Pallas, 1766) * '' Ircinia felix'' (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) * '' Irsinia strobilina'' (Lamarck, 1816) Family

Microcionidae Microcionidae is a family of marine demosponge Demosponges (Demospongiae) are the most diverse class in the phylum Porifera. They include 76.2% of all species of sponges with nearly 8,800 species worldwide (World Porifera Database). T ...

* '' Artemisina melana'' van Soest, 1984 * '' Clathria ferrea'' (de Laubenfels, 1936) * '' Clathria venosa'' Hooper, 1996 * '' Clathria microchela'' (Stephens, 1916) * '' Clathria schoenus'' (Laubenfels, 1936) * '' Clathria venosa'' (Alcolado, 1984) * '' Microciona'' * '' Pandaros acanthifolium'' Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 Family

Mycalidae Mycalidae is a Family (biology), family of marine demosponges. Genera According to the World Register of Marine Species, there are only two Genus, genera in this family. Previously there were about 26, but most of these have been reallocated as ...

* '' Ulosa hispida'' Hechtel, 1965 * '' Mycale americana'' van Soest, 1984 * '' Mycale angulosa'' (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) * '' Mycale carmigropila'' Hajdu & Rützler, 1998 * '' Mycale citrina'' Hajdu & Rützler, 1998 * '' Mycale laxissima'' (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) * '' Mycale magnirhaphidifera'' van Soest, 1984 * '' Mycale microsigmatosa'' Arndt, 1927Reinaldo S. Compagnone, Maria C. Oliveri, Ivette C. Piña, Sheila Marques, Héctor R. Rangel, Fracehulli Dagger, AlÍrica I. Suárez & Matilde Gómez. 1999: 5-Alkylpyrrole-2-Carboxaldehydes From the Caribbean Sponges ''Mycale Microsigmatosa'' and ''Desmapsamma Anchorata''. Natural Product Letters, 13(3) :203=211. Family Niphatidae * '' Amphimedon compressa'' Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 * '' Amphimedon viridis'' Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 * '' Gelliodes ramosa'' Kieschnick, 1898 * '' Neopetrosia subtriangularis'' (Duchassaing, 1850) * '' Niphates erecta'' Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 Family Ophlitaspongiidae * '' Biemna caribea'' Pulitzer-Finali, 1986 * '' Biemna microstyla'' Laubenfels, 1950 * '' Desmacella jania'' Verrill, 1907 * '' Desmacella meliorata'' Wiedenmayer, 1977 Family Petrosiidae * '' Neopetrosia subtriangularis'' (Duchassaing, 1850) Family Phloeodictyidae * '' Oceanapia nodosa'' (George & Wilson, 1919) Family Placospongiidae * '' Placospongia intermedia'' Sollas, 1888 Family Spirastrellidae * '' Desmacella jania'' Family Spongiidae

* '' Spongia pertusa'' Hyatt, 1877 * ''

Spongia officinalis ''Spongia officinalis'', better known as a variety of bath sponge, is a commercially used sea sponge. Individuals grow in large lobes with small openings and are formed by a mesh of primary and secondary fibers. It is light grey to black in color ...

'' Linnaeus, 1759 * '' Spongia tubulifera'' Lamarck, 1814 * '' Spongia zimocca'' Schmidt, 1862 Family Suberitidae * '' Prosuberites laughlini'' (Díaz, Álvarez & van Soest, 1987) * '' Suberites aurantiacus'' (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) * '' Terpios fugax'' Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 * '' Terpios zeteki'' Laubenfels 1936 * ''

Terpios manglaris ''Terpios'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Suberitidae. Species *''Terpios aploos'' de Laubenfels, 1954 *''Terpios australiensis'' Hentschel, 1909 *''Terpios belindae'' Rützler & Smith, 1993 *''Terpios cruciata'' (Dendy, 190 ...

'' Rützler & Smith, 1993 Family Sycettidae * '' Sycon'' Family Tethyidae * ''

Tethya actinia ''Tethya actinia'' is a sea sponge belonging to the family (biology), family Tethyidae. While it is highly toxic to fish, it is known to be preyed upon by the hawksbill turtle, ''Eretmochelys imbricata''. References

Hadromerida Animals ...

'' de Laubenfels, 1950 * '' Tethya seychellensis'' (Wright, 1881) Family Tedaniide * '' Tedania ignis'' (Duchassaing & Michelotti 1864) * '' Lissodendoryx isodictyalis'' (Carter, 1882) Family Tetillidae * '' Cinachyrella apion'' (Uliczka, 1929) * '' Cinachyrella kuekenthali'' (Uliczka, 1929) * '' Cinachyrella tarentina'' (Pulitzer-Finali, 1983) Family Thorectidae * '' Hyrtios proteus' Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 * '' Hyrtios violaceus'' (Duchassaing & Michelotti 1864)

Freshwater sponges

Family Metaniidae * '' Acalle recurvata'' (Bowerbank, 1863) y 2000: Esponjas de agua dulce (Porifera, Desmopongiae) de Venezuela. Acta Biologica Venezuelica, 20(1):1-28 * '' Drulia browni'' (Bowerbank, 1863) * '' Drulia conifera'' Boneto & Ezcurra de Drago, 1973 * '' Drulia cristata'' (Weltner, 1895) * '' Drulia uruguayensis'' Boneto & Ezcurra de Drago, 1968 * '' Metania reticulata'' (Bowerbank, 1863) Family Potamolepidae * '' Onosclera intermedia'' (Boneto & Ezcurra de Drago, 1973) * '' Onosclera navicella'' (Carter, 1881) * '' Onosclera spinifera'' (Boneto & Ezcurra de Drago, 1973) * '' Uruguaya corallioides'' (Bowerbank, 1863) Family Spongillidae * '' Corvoheteromeyenia heterosclera'' (Ezcurra de drago, 1974) * '' Saturnospongilla carvalhoi'' Volkmer-Rivero, 1976 * '' Spongilla alba'' Carter, 1849 * '' Pottsiela spoliata'' Volkmer-Rivero & Maciel, 1983 * '' Trochospongilla gregaria'' (Bowerbank, 1863) * '' Trochospongilla minuta'' (Postt, 1887) * '' Trochospongilla paulula'' (Bowerbank, 1863)

References

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Other references

* Álvarez, A. I. 1989. Establecimiento, desarrollo y mantenimiento de una comunidad epibentónica tropical. ettlement, Development and Maintenance of a Tropical Epibenthic Community.Licenciate’s Thesis, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela. * Diaz, M. C., S. Pauls, E. Villamizar, A. Alvizu, M. E. Amaro, M. Cellamare, S. Grune, I. Hernández, S. Narciso, A. Pérez, J. Pérez, I. Ramírez, R. Ramos, M. P. Romero, and P. Young. 2003. Porifera Biodiversity in Nueva Esparta, Venezuela: Common Species from La Restinga and Cabugua Island. Abstract. The Twin Cays Mangrove Ecosystem, Belize: Biodiversity, Geological History, and Two Decades of Change. Report from a Workshop, Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, Florida, December 2003. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution. * Pauls, S. 1998. Estudio Sistemático y Biodiversidad de Porifera y Cnidaria en la Bahía de la P. N. Henri Pittier. ystematic and Diversity Study of Porifera and Cnidaria of the Ciénaga de Ocumare de la Costa Bay, Henri Pittier National Park.Caracas: Escuela de Biología, Universidad Central de Venezuela. * Pauls, S. 2003. “Esponjas.” In Biodiversidad en Venezuela. ��Sponges.”In Biodiversity of Venezuela. ed. M. Aguilera, A. Azocar, and E. Gonzales, pp. 210– 219. Caracas, Venezuela: Polar Foundation and Ministry of Science and Technology. * Pérez, A. 2007. Biodiversidad y Estructura Comunitaria de Poriferos Asociados a Raíces del Manglar, Rhizophora mangle, en el P. N. Laguna de La Restinga, Nueva Esparta, Venezuela. iodiversity and Community Structure of Porifers Associated to Mangrove Roots, Rizophora mangle, in Laguna de La Restinga National Park, Nueva Esparta, Venezuela.Licenciate’s Thesis, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela. * Ramírez, I. 2002. Taxonomía de Esponjas (Porifera: Demospongiae) de la Laguna de Bocaripo, Estado Sucre, e Islote Caribe, Dependencia Federal, Venezuela. axonomy of the Sponges (Porifera: Demospongiae) of Bocaripo Lagoon, Estado Sucre, and Caribe Island, Dependencia Federal, Venezuela.Licenciate’s Thesis, Universidad de Oriente, Cumaná.

External links

M. Cristina Diaz and Klaus Rützler. 2001: Sponges: an essential component of Caribbean coral reefs. Bulletin of Marine Science, 69(2): 535–546

World Register of Marine Species (Worms)

World Porifera database

Videos

Diving Los Roques HD / Buceo Los Roques HD / Mergulho Los Roques HD
Venezuela, List Poriferans Sponges Lists of invertebrates