The not scientific name of finger sponges is probably due to the fact that this kind of sponge looks like a handful of fingers, clearly visible, at home in tropical waters. This is in contrast to many other sponge species that prefer to grow among or under corals and rocks, making them much less conspicuous.
In addition, the red color of finger sponges is so striking that they are hard to miss.
Two species are native to the northern part of the Red Sea.
On the one hand, the poisonous finger sponge lat. Negombata magnifica
.
This one bears its name with good reason. It produces the extremely toxic substance latrunculin. This toxin is so valuable for basic substance research that the poisonous finger sponge is also bred.
In its natural habitat, the poisonous finger sponge protects itself from predators by releasing a cloud of the strong-smelling substance when touched, thus avoiding being eaten by fish.
What makes the poisonous finger sponge visually attractive for us divers not only because of its shape and color, but because on the sponge of the Often, individually or in groups, the colorful Chromodoris magnifica can be found. Known by the popular name pajama night gill snail.
On the other hand, the iodine finger sponge lat. lotrochota purpuera.
The iodine finger sponge is quite a bit larger when fully grown and can grow up to 70 cm. Its habitat is primarily in shallow water at depths of 5 to 20 meters.
Conspicuous and hard to miss as a diver
.His finger-like branches are somewhat firmer in consistency. It secretes a substance when exposed to pressure that has an intense iodine odor when exposed to air
.It’s worth taking a closer look.
For those with a good eye can spot the only 2 to 3 cm dwarf goby lat. Pleurosicya michilie.
Photos Johann Vifian
Quellen: Korallenriffführer und Riffführer Rotes Meer
