Pseudospongosorites
| Pseudospongosorites suberitoides | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Demospongiae |
| Order: | Hadromerida |
| Family: | Suberitidae |
| Genus: |
Pseudospongosorites McCormack & Kelly, 2002 |
| Species: | P. suberitoides |
| Binomial name | |
|
Pseudospongosorites suberitoides (Díaz, van Soest & Pomponi, 1993) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Pseudospongosorites suberitoides is a species of demosponge belonging to the family Suberitidae. It is currently considered the only species in the genus Pseudospongosorites. It is found in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and on the Atlantic coast of the United States as far north as North Carolina. This species is known by the common name Florida hermit crab sponge, so named because hermit crabs often use it as shelter.
Pseudospongosorites suberitoides was originally thought to represent a species in the genus Suberites, due to its superficial resemblance and similar ecology.Suberites contains nearly all other sponges known as the 'hermit crab sponges,' most notably Suberites domuncula. However the Suberites hermit crab sponges are only found in deep water greater than 20m, while Pseudospongosorites suberitoides is usually found in shallow water near shore. In 1993 the species was named as a species in the genus Spongosorites, under the family Halichondriidae and order Halichondrida, with its similarities to Suberites attributed to convergent evolution. Genetic work in 2002 led to its current classification as the sole member of a new genus under family Suberitidae and order Hadromerida.
P. suberitoides has a smooth, waxy texture and is slightly compressible. It can grow over 10 centimeters long. It is polymorphic, typically appearing as green, brown, or tan, but approximately 10% of specimens are bright orange. Dead, desiccated specimens that may wash up on a beach are often turquoise-blue. All P. suberitoides specimens contain gemmules, which are not usually produced by marine sponges.
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