Oceanapia nodosa

Oceanapia nodosa is a sponge species found in the tropical waters of the Western Central Atlantic, particularly in the Caribbean. This sponge is characterized by its thin to thick crust, which can reach a maximum thickness of 3 cm. It features numerous fistules and oscular tubes that are 0.5 cm in diameter and 3 to 5 cm long. The tubular walls of Oceanapia nodosa are paper-thin and semitransparent, with a coloration that ranges from white to tan both externally and internally. This species is typically found in shallow waters, with all recorded occurrences being at depths shallower than 40 meters, and most found at depths less than 10 meters. Oceanapia nodosa is sessile, often attaching itself to mangrove roots in brackish environments. As a member of the class Demospongiae, it is hermaphroditic, meaning individuals possess both male and female reproductive organs. The life cycle includes a free-swimming larval stage known as the parenchymella larva, which eventually settles on a substrate to grow into a mature sponge. Divers encountering Oceanapia nodosa might find it attached to substrates in mangrove areas. While it does not have a conservation status evaluation, it poses no threat to humans and is considered harmless.