Phylum Porifera
'Hairy olives' sponge
Stelletta clavosa*
Family Ancorinidae
updated Dec 11

Where seen? This tiny spherical olive-coloured and olive-shaped sponges with fine filaments are sometimes seen sprinkled on coral rubble or even on other sponges. This sponge is highly tolerant of silt and can be found on most reefs.

Features:
About 2cm in diameter, spherical covered with short, fine spines. May be slightly flattened at the top. There is a single large hole at the top. Called the oscule, this is where water is expelled from the tiny sponge. Colour usually dull olive green, may also be yellow.

Terumbu Berkas, Jan 10

Growing on Brown prickly sponge.
Terumbu Pempang Darat, Jun 10

Growing on Orange sprawling sponge.
Terumbu Pempang Darat, Jun 10

'Hairy olives' sponges on Singapore shores


Cyrene Reef, Jul 10


Pulau Hantu, Feb 10

Pulau Hantu, Apr 10

Terumbu Berkas, May 10


Cyrene Reef, Jun 10


Terumbu Pempang Tengah, Jul 10

Terumbu Pempang Tengah, Jul 10

Terumbu Raya, Jul 11


Pulau Salu, Jun 10

Pulau Senang, Jun 10

*Sponge species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.

References

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