Agelas conifera, also known as the brown tube sponge, is a species of sponge. Its color is brown, tan, or greyish brown with a lighter interior. It is common in the Caribbean and Bahamas, and occasional in Florida.Humann, Paul, Reef creature Identification, Edited by Ned Deloach. New World Publications, Inc., 1992, p. 22-23. Agelas conifera contains bromopyrrole alkaloids, notably sceptrin and oroidin, and levels of these feeding-deterrents increase upon predation. Agelas conifera exhibit a wound response, increasing the production and release of bromopyrrole alkaloids, which appear to also protect against harmful microorganisms.Richelle-Maurer, E., De Kluijver, M. J., Feio, S., Gaudêncio, S., Gaspar, H., Gomez, R., Tavares, R., Van de Vyver, G., & Van Soest, R. W. M. (2003). Localization and ecological significance of Oroidin and Sceptrin in the caribbean sponge agelas conifera. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 31(10), 1073–1091. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0305-1978(03)00072-3

Related species Agelas clathrodes

References