Blue Sponge - Phorbas tenacior

Phorbas tenacior (Topsent, 1925) is a sponge of the family Hymedesmiidae (Demospongiae), widespread in the Mediterranean sea. Phorbas tenacior Spugna Blu Blue Sponge intotheblue.it

Phorbas tenacior Blue Sponge Spugna incrostante blu www.intotheblue.it

We are in Sardinia in the area of the Costa Verde, on a rocky bottom about 2/5 meters deep, full of caves and ravines, some of them very large and deep. We found the Phorbas tenacior also in other areas of the Mediterranean where it seems very widespread; in the video we can see it together with other sponges of the genus Verongia and Porifera, often together with echinoderms and sea urchins, but always far from light and brightness. In these ravines with a remarkable clarity of water we find it predominantly blue and blue.

The Costa Verde is a coast in western Sardinia overlooking the Sardinian Sea and located south of the Gulf of Oristano. It extends for about 50 km between Capo Frasca, to the north, and Capo Pecora and Portixeddu, to the south, and belongs to the municipalities of Arbus, Fluminimaggiore and Buggerru. It is called Costa Verde because of the vegetation of mastic, broom, strawberry tree and juniper. In the past in this area there were important mining activities, with centers such as Ingurtosu, Montevecchio and Buggerru, where zinc and lead were mined.

Phorbas tenacior Spugna Blu Blue Sponge intotheblue.it — Phorbas tenacior Blue Sponge intotheblue.it

Description

It is an encrusting sponge with a leucon-like morphology. It gives life to colonies with the appearance of translucent plates of fleshy consistency, from light blue to blue-gray in color, 1-3 mm thick and up to 15-20 cm2 wide. The inhalant orifices are grouped and the osculae are in an elevated position. The transparent channels are visible.

Distribution and habitat

It is common in the Mediterranean Sea. Sciafila species that prefer poorly lit environments (caves, north-facing walls).

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phorbas_tenacior