Suberites suberea is also known as Suberites ficus .This sponge begins its life by attaching to a mollusc shell. As it grows, it overtakes the shell and eventually dissolves it. A hermit crab (Pagurus sp.) is usually found in the cavity of the sponge, but the sponge is usually quite larger than the crab itself. The sponge is hard and rubbery in texture, and is dark orange in colour. It is Found all around the intertidal and shallow subtidal areas of Race Rocks.
Domain | Eukarya |
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Porifera |
Class | Demospongiae |
Order | Hadromeridia |
Family | Suberitidae |
Genus | Suberites |
Species | suberea |
Common Name: | Hermit Crab Sponge |
This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by the students of Lester B. Pearson College Dec. 2002 Jana Morehouse Link to other sponge specimens from Race Rocks Link to the Race Rocks Taxonomy and Image gallery index
This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by the students, faculty, staff and volunteers of Lester B. Pearson College | Dec. 2002 | Jana Morehouse |