Phorbas amaranthus

Phorbas amaranthus is a sponge species belonging to the family Hymedesmiidae. It is commonly found in the Western Central Atlantic, particularly around Belize, Cuba, and the USA. This species thrives in tropical, reef-associated environments and is typically found at depths ranging from 1 to 36 meters. Divers may encounter this sponge encrusting dead corals, the bases of live corals, or metamorphic rocks, where it forms a smooth, encrusting layer between 0.5 to 3 centimeters thick. The sponge is characterized by its dark red to red-brown coloration, both externally and internally. Its surface is smooth, featuring a distinctive pattern of round, slightly elevated pore fields, each less than 0.5 centimeters wide. Phorbas amaranthus is delicate and soft, and it secretes a dark substance if damaged. The sponge's surface is dotted with elevated round oscules, which are distributed irregularly and have a thin, transparent or colored marginal membrane. Numerous spicules provide support to the rounded warts on its surface, aiding in its identification. As a member of the class Demospongiae, Phorbas amaranthus is hermaphroditic. The zygote develops into a free-swimming parenchymella larva before settling on a substrate to grow into a young sponge. Currently, there is no evaluation of its conservation status by the IUCN, CITES, or CMS.