Agelas dispar

Agelas dispar is a species of demosponge found in the Caribbean Sea and around the West Indies, typically inhabiting shallow-water reefs. It is known for its massive, irregularly-shaped formations that can sometimes appear bulbous or encrusting, reaching up to 30 cm across. The sponge's external color ranges from pinkish-brown to deep brown, while internally it can appear lighter, in shades of orange or tan. Its surface is smooth with numerous exhalent pores of varying shapes and sizes. These pores are often found in shallow pits and are part of a complex canal system within the sponge. This species thrives at depths ranging from 10 to 35 meters, often found below 10 meters on coral reefs. Agelas dispar provides a habitat for various marine life, hosting alpheid shrimps and being commensal with amphipods. As a member of the class Demospongiae, it is hermaphroditic, with a life cycle that includes a free-swimming parenchymella larva stage before settling on a substrate to grow into a mature sponge. While diving, encountering Agelas dispar can be an intriguing experience due to its unique structure and the small marine creatures it supports. However, its conservation status has not been evaluated, and there are no specific threats to humans associated with this sponge.