Prickly Tube Sponge

Callyspongia crassa

The Prickly Tube Sponge is a distinctive sponge species found from the Red Sea to the Seychelles. It features a large, flexible brown tube that can sometimes appear red. This sponge can be seen as a single tube or in clusters, reaching up to 50 centimeters in height. Its surface is covered with spines or spine-like protrusions, which taper away towards the upper part of the tube, giving it a prickly appearance. Divers can encounter this sponge in marine reef and benthic habitats, often between depths of 1 to 30 meters, though it is more commonly found at depths of 15 to 30 meters. The Prickly Tube Sponge thrives in warm, high-salinity waters, such as those in the Red Sea, where temperatures do not drop below 21°C. As filter feeders, these sponges draw in water through their base, extracting nutrients and expelling the filtered water through the osculum. They consume both small plants and animals, making them omnivorous. Reproduction occurs both sexually and asexually, allowing them to adapt to seasonal changes and optimize their presence on the reef.