Axinellidae is a family of sponges in the order Axinellida.
This family includes some photosynthetic sponges that occur throughout the world's coral reefs. They are among the more common sponges seen in the aquarium trade, but are usually not successful species in captivity, and not ones that thrive in the small household tank environment. They are common throughout the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean coral reefs. Species which derive their nutrition from sunlight must stay fairly close to the surface in order for their zooxanthellae to produce the sugars these sponges use to survive.
Genera There are ten genera: Axinella Schmidt, 1862 Dragmacidon Hallmann, 1917 Dragmaxia Hallmann, 1916 Ophiraphidites Carter, 1876 Pararhaphoxya Burton, 1934 Phycopsis Carter, 1883 Pipestela Alvarez, Hooper & van Soest, 2008 Ptilocaulis Carter, 1883 Reniochalina Lendenfeld, 1888
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