Callyspongia crassa
| Callyspongia crassa | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota | 
| Kingdom: | Animalia | 
| Phylum: | Porifera | 
| Class: | Demospongiae | 
| Order: | Haplosclerida | 
| Family: | Callyspongiidae | 
| Genus: | Callyspongia | 
| Species: | C. crassa | 
| Binomial name | |
| Callyspongia crassa Keller, 1889 | |
| Synonyms | |
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Callyspongia crassa, commonly known as prickly tube-sponge, is a species of sponge found from the Red Sea to the Seychelles. Its wide flexible brown tube with exterior protuberances can appear as a single tube or as clusters of tubes and can reach up to 50 centimeters (20 inches) in size. Like many other sea sponges, it is primarily used for marine drugs as they have many bioactive components and properties. They also play an important role in marine reef and benthic communities, as they constantly filter water and act as habitats for smaller organisms. As sea sponges, they have the ability to reproduce both sexually and asexually.