Lavender Rope Sponge

Niphates erecta

These tangled masses of lavender to pink colored, very porous sponges are often times covered with Sponge Zoanthids. At times the Sponge Zoanthids are so thick, the sponge looks brown rather than pink or lavender as in picture #4 (See photos 3 - 8). These photos were all taken in  3 to 6 feet of water. There are other growth forms that actually hang, rope-like, from deep walls and ledges at depths to one hundred feet and others that grow in an upright stalk.