Marine Species: Aplysina fistularis

Taxonomy Structure

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Common Name:	Yellow tube sponge
Description:	Usually they can be found in an aggregated form on which the tubes are connected through the base (described by Wiedenmayer). In shalow waters that agregated form it has usually shorter tubes with branchelets near the opening while in higher depths the tubes are long and without branchelets, mainly along walls. If squeezed, the tubes secrete a purple dye that stains the skin for several days.
Habitat:	Reefs away from the coastline in depth's between 30 and 40m
Color:	Soft-walled tubes between yellow and orange sometimes with branchelets (which can make them harder to identify due getting similar to A. insularis). At bigger depths, in natural light, they may seem to have a greener coloration.
Dimensions:	They vary according to the depth where they are and in greater depths they can reach the 30cm.
Geographical Distribution:	Caribbean Sea Gulf of Mexico Northwest Atlantic