Honeycomb bath sponge
Hippospongia communis also known as the honeycomb bath sponge, is a marine sponge in the phylum Porifera.
Hippospongia communis is a brown or darker color and very porous, due to its many oscules, and is commonly found in shallow waters of the Mediterranean. Throughout history, H. communis has been used for cleaning, medicine, and cooking. Along with being used for domestic purposes, the bath sponge has been used in many scientific studies.
Fi
Filter feederSe
SedentarySedentary animals lead such a type of lifestyle in which little to or no physical activity is done. These are mostly marine bottom-dwelling animals...
Ov
OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
No
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
H
starts withHippospongia communis is usually a large, rounded sponge that has a yellowish brown color. The size of the bath sponge varies but the larger they are, the more expensive they can be. H.communis has a skeleton that is made out of elements such as O, I, Al, Cl, and Si. It has many oscules, making the sponge very porous. It is likely that the H. communis sponges have other organisms living within these oscules. Many organism such as crustaceans and worms are typical organisms found within the sponge. These sponges are a great habitats to sustain other kinds of life.
Hippospongia communis has a bioactive compound that makes it anti-fungal. This is due to untensopongin B, making the sponge perfect for its uses in old medicine.
The most common areas that Hippospongia communis inhabit are marine waters, mostly in the Western Mediterranean or the South Aegean Sea. Specifically in the Mediterranean, the Hippospongia communis is the most common sponge. The sponge settles on rocky or muddy bottoms and it is common to find them in ocean caves. Hippospongia communis like being in shallow water, around 15 m deep. The few individual H. communis that are found at the deeper depths are typically older.
Hippospongia communis sexually reproduces year round. The sponge is also hermaphroditic, meaning it has both male and female reproductive organs at the same time.
It has been found that during its sexual reproduction, regardless of the location, the Hippospongia communis eggs will fertilize at the same time. The bath sponge reproduction times are all synced throughout different locations that the H. communis inhabit. The larva has a planktonic, free-living stage then the sponge larvae eventually adjusts on the sea floor, usually on rough surfaces. Many times, the larvae does not survive these first few stages.
