Yellow-Green Candle Sponge

Aplysina insularis

The yellow-green candle sponge is a large sponge species found primarily in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. It typically forms one or more cylindrical tubes that unite at the base, with each tube narrowing into a large osculum at the top. These tubes can grow up to 50 centimeters in length and 8 centimeters in diameter. The sponge's surface may be smooth or covered with fine conical projections, and its texture is both soft and tough. Its color ranges from yellowish brown to an intense greenish yellow in deeper waters, where it fluoresces under blue light. This sponge inhabits regions such as Bermuda, Florida, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, the Greater Antilles, and northern Brazil. It is commonly found on coral reefs, particularly on outer reef slopes and vertical walls, at depths ranging from 1 to 40 meters. The yellow-green candle sponge is sessile and often shares its habitat with various marine species, including the sponge cardinal fish and several neon goby species, which find refuge within its structure. The zygote develops into a free-swimming larva before settling on a substrate to grow into a new sponge. Divers encountering this species should be aware that it can release a dark substance when disturbed, which can stain skin.