Iotrochota protea

Staining Sponge

small species image
click to enlarge

Chela Zabin
Sandy Beach, Oahu
April 6, 2004
Iotrochota protea
Description Habitat Trophic Info
Safety Comments Links to Resources

Description: This sponge is black in color and can sometimes appear a very dark maroon at certain angles.  The texture of the sponge is very smooth and soft.  It can feel almost like velvet.  The pores of this sponge are very small and can hardly be seen.
Habitat: This sponge likes to grow on sandy bottoms or bottoms that have rocks or rubble.  This sponge also likes to grow in places that are sheltered or places that do not receive a lot of wave action.
Range (include invasive, native, endemic): The range of this species is unknown.
Trophic information: The trophic information for this sponge is unknown.
Safety: This sponge can make rocks slippery but other than that there are no other safety issues.
Comments: When handling this sponge you should wear gloves since this sponge can stain your skin a dark purple.  In the picture you can see the purple "ink" on the person's thumb.
Links to Resources:
 
 
 
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