Class
Common name: Demosponges
Scientific name: Demospongiae
Demospongiae, commonly known as demosponges, represent the largest class within the phylum Porifera. They are characterized by their diverse forms, ranging from encrusting sheets to branching structures. Demosponges are predominantly marine, but some species are found in freshwater environments. They have a skeleton made of spongin, a flexible material, and often silica in the form of spicules. These sponges play a crucial role in marine ecosystems by filtering water and providing habitat for other organisms. In reef aquariums, they can add natural filtration and biological diversity, but they require stable water conditions and low to moderate lighting.
- Common name: Boring SpongeScientific name: Aaptos suberitoides
- Common name: Orange lumpy spongeScientific name: Acanthella acuta
- Common name: Sponge CoralScientific name: Acanthella cavernosa
- Common name: Sponge NudibranchScientific name: Acanthella klethra
- Common name: Branching Hammer CoralScientific name: Adreus fascicularis
- Common name: orange elephant ear spongeScientific name: Agelas clathrodes
- Common name: Brown Tube SpongeScientific name: Agelas conifera
- Common name: Rough Tube SpongeScientific name: Agelas dispar
- Common name: Fan SpongeScientific name: Agelas flabelliformis
- Common name: Slimy Branching SpongeScientific name: Agelas gracilis
- Common name: Mauritian SpongeScientific name: Agelas mauritiana
- Common name: Gold SpongeScientific name: Agelas oroides
- Common name: Elephant Ear SpongeScientific name: Agelas schmidtii
- Common name: Branching tube spongeScientific name: Aiolochroia crassa
- Common name: carrot-spongeScientific name: Amphilectus fucorum
- Common name: erect rope spongeScientific name: Amphimedon compressa
- Common name: Yellow tube spongeScientific name: Aplysina aerophoba
- Common name: Stove Pipe SpongeScientific name: Aplysina archeri
- Common name: row pore rope spongeScientific name: Aplysina cauliformis
- Common name: Vase SpongeScientific name: Aplysina cavernicola
- Common name: Yellow tube spongeScientific name: Aplysina fistularis
- Common name: Stove Pipe SpongeScientific name: Aplysina lacunosa
- Common name: Star CoralScientific name: Astrosclera willeyana
- Common name: Aru SpongeScientific name: Axinella aruensis
- Common name: Axinella cannabinaScientific name: Axinella cannabina
- Common name: yellow spongeScientific name: Axinella damicornis
- Common name: branching spongeScientific name: Axinella dissimilis
- Common name: Yellow SpongeScientific name: Axinella flustra
- Common name: Axinella PolypoidesScientific name: Axinella polypoides
- Common name: Rough SpongeScientific name: Axinella verrucosa
- Common name: Axinyssa ambrosiaScientific name: Axinyssa ambrosia
- Common name: Rope SpongeScientific name: Callyspongia monilata
- Common name: Branching Vase SpongeScientific name: Callyspongia muricina
- Common name: azure vase spongeScientific name: Callyspongia plicifera
- Common name: Reticulated SpongeScientific name: Callyspongia pseudoreticulata
- Common name: Schulze's SpongeScientific name: Callyspongia schulzei
- Common name: Blasser RöhrenschwammScientific name: Callyspongia siphonella
- Common name: Branching Vase SpongeScientific name: Callyspongia vaginalis
- Common name: Leaf spongeScientific name: Carteriospongia foliascens
- Common name: chicken liver spongeScientific name: Chondrilla nucula
- Common name: Kidney-shaped spongeScientific name: Chondrosia reniformis
- Common name: Australian SpongeScientific name: Cinachyrella australiensis
- Common name: Boring SpongeScientific name: Ciocalypta penicillus
- Common name: Red Encrusting SpongeScientific name: Clathria basilana
- Common name: Red Tree SpongeScientific name: Clathria cervicornis
- Common name: Curacao SpongeScientific name: Clathria curacaoensis
- Common name: Red Tree SpongeScientific name: Clathria macropora
- Common name: Red SpongeScientific name: Clathria mima
- Common name: Red Tree SpongeScientific name: Clathria procera
- Common name: Reinwardt's SpongeScientific name: Clathria reinwardti
- Common name: Red SpongeScientific name: Clathria tuberosa
- Common name: Caribbean Cliona SpongeScientific name: Cliona caribbaea
- Common name: Yellow SpongeScientific name: Cliona carteri
- Common name: boring spongeScientific name: Cliona celata
- Common name: red boring spongeScientific name: Cliona delitrix
- Common name: Cliona viridisScientific name: Cliona viridis
- Common name: Elephant Ear SpongeScientific name: Collospongia auris
- Common name: Crambe SpongeScientific name: Crambe crambe
- Common name: Giant Barrel SpongeScientific name: Cribrochalina vasculum
- Common name: Sponge CoralScientific name: Cymbastela coralliophila
- Common name: Vase SpongeScientific name: Desmacidon fruticosum
- Common name: Star SpongeScientific name: Diplastrella megastellata
- Common name: Reticulate SpongeScientific name: Dragmacidon reticulatum
- Common name: brown encrusting octopus spongeScientific name: Ectyoplasia ferox
- Common name: Deadman's Finger spongeScientific name: Halichondria bowerbanki
- Common name: Yellow SpongeScientific name: Halichondria cartilaginea
- Common name: Breadcrumb SpongeScientific name: Halichondria panicea
- Common name: Amboinensis SpongeScientific name: Haliclona amboinensis
- Common name: Blue SpongeScientific name: Haliclona caerulea
- Common name: Cymaformis SpongeScientific name: Haliclona cymaeformis
- Common name: Haliclona fascigeraScientific name: Haliclona fascigera
- Common name: Haliclona FibulataScientific name: Haliclona fibulata
- Common name: Mediterranean SpongeScientific name: Haliclona mediterranea
- Common name: encrusting turret spongeScientific name: Haliclona oculata
- Common name: Pink Encrusting SpongeScientific name: Haliclona rosea
- Common name: Haliclona simulansScientific name: Haliclona simulans
- Common name: Haliclona TubiferaScientific name: Haliclona tubifera
- Common name: Haliclona UrceolusScientific name: Haliclona urceolus
- Common name: Blue SpongeScientific name: Haliclona viscosa
- Common name: Blue SpongeScientific name: Halisarca caerulea
- Common name: Columella SpongeScientific name: Hemimycale columella
- Common name: SpongeScientific name: Hyattella intestinalis
- Common name: Hymedesmia paupertasScientific name: Hymedesmia paupertas
- Common name: crumb-of-bread spongeScientific name: Hymeniacidon perlevis
- Common name: elephant ear spongeScientific name: Ianthella basta
- Common name: Elephant Ear SpongeScientific name: Ianthella flabelliformis
- Common name: Iophon SpongeScientific name: Iophon laevistylus
- Common name: green finger spongeScientific name: Iotrochota birotulata
- Common name: Stinker SpongeScientific name: Ircinia campana
- Common name: Stinker SpongeScientific name: Ircinia felix
- Common name: black-ball spongeScientific name: Ircinia strobilina
- Common name: Serpentine SpongeScientific name: Jaspis serpentina
- Common name: Stellate SpongeScientific name: Jaspis stellifera
- Common name: Chalk SpongeScientific name: Lamellodysidea herbacea
- Common name: Dendy's SpongeScientific name: Lendenfeldia dendyi
- Common name: Bubble Coral ShrimpScientific name: Liosina paradoxa
- Common name: Sarasin's Pincushion CoralScientific name: Melophlus sarasinorum
- Common name: Red Encrusting SpongeScientific name: Monanchora arbuscula
- Common name: Orange Puffball SpongeScientific name: Mycale laevis
- Common name: Red Beard SpongeScientific name: Mycale laxissima
- Common name: Red Encrusting SpongeScientific name: Mycale rotalis
- Common name: Fimbriated SpongeScientific name: Myxilla fimbriata
- Common name: Rough scallop spongeScientific name: Myxilla incrustans
- Common name: Rosy SpongeScientific name: Myxilla rosacea
- Common name: Red Sea AppleScientific name: Negombata corticata
- Common name: Red Sea AppleScientific name: Negombata magnifica
- Common name: Touch-Me-Not SpongeScientific name: Neofibularia nolitangere
- Common name: Red SpongeScientific name: Neopetrosia exigua
- Common name: Rosario's SpongeScientific name: Neopetrosia rosariensis
- Common name: Pink Vase SpongeScientific name: Niphates digitalis
- Common name: Niphates olemdaScientific name: Niphates olemda
- Common name: Amboina SpongeScientific name: Oceanapia amboinensis
- Common name: Giant Elephant Ear SpongeScientific name: Pachymatisma johnstonia
- Common name: Poisonous SpongeScientific name: Petrosia ficiformis
- Common name: Chalice spongeScientific name: Phakellia ventilabrum
- Common name: Red SpongeScientific name: Phorbas amaranthus
- Common name: Phorbas tenaciorScientific name: Phorbas tenacior
- Common name: Elephant Ear SpongeScientific name: Phyllospongia lamellosa
- Common name: boring spongeScientific name: Pione vastifica
- Common name: Polymastia boletiformisScientific name: Polymastia boletiformis