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| sponges text index | photo index |
| Phylum Porifera |
| Photo
index of sponges on Singapore shores Sponges in the shape of balls or vases |
| 2-5cm. Spherical with spines that may have bulbous portions near the tips. Orange, yellow or beige. Coral rubble. Sometimes seen on some of our Northern shores. | 2cm.Spherical with short, fine spines. A single large hole at the top. Dull olive green, may also be yellow. Commonly seen on our reefy shores. | 6-8cm. Spherical with fine spines and bare circular indentations that lack spines. Coral rubble. Sometimes seen on some of our shores. | To 15 cm. Spherical or oval, surface smooth, shiny. Small holes or small cones with large holes. Black. Coral rubble. Sometimes seen on some of our shores. | 8-10cm. Prickly bushy made up of lobes with many prickly spikes, with many large cavities. Colour is black with a purple tinge. seen on our Northern shores. |
| 8-10cm. Spherical or oval, a smooth surface sometimes with small holes about 0.5cm in diameter, with tiny brittle stars. Bright orange. Coral rubble. Sometimes seen on some of our shores. | 10-15 cm. Spherical or oval, surface smooth, feels grainy. Sometimes buried. Black on the outside, bright yellow inside. Reefs. Sometimes seen on some of our Southern shores. | 10-30 cm. Spherical or oval, surface very hairy, trapping sediments. Mostly buried, with only large, short chimneys sticking out. Pale brown. Reefs. Sometimes seen on some of our shores. | 10-20cm. Spherical, oval to irregular mounds. Surface smooth with lots of holes about 0.5-1cm in diameter, each usually with a tiny brittle star. Usually brown, sometimes lilac. Among coral rubble. Commonly seen on many of our shores. | 8-10cm. Ball-shaped with large holes and covered with small spikes on the outside. Smaller ones may not be ball-shaped. Shades of purple, blue and pink. Coral rubble. Commonly seen on our Northern shores. |
| 12-15cm. Rounded with one or more large depressions in the centre usually with tiny holes. Bumps on the outside. Usually dull yellow to brown. Among coral rubble. Commonly seen on our Southern shores. | 10-20cm. vase- or barrel-shaped with finger-like bumps on the outside. Usually several 'vases' together. Maroon to pinkish and the 'opening' of the barrel is paler to white. Among coral rubble. Seen on our undisturbed Northern shores. | 1m by 1m, shaped like a cup or wine glass on a stalk which is embedded in the ground and has 'roots'. White or yellow. Rarely seen. On our Southern shores. |
Sponge species are difficult to positively identify without close examination. On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display. |
| more about how to tell apart blob-like lifeforms |
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