Species Name: Spirastrella purpurea

Authority: Lamarck, 1814

Common Name: Purple Boring Sponge

Range: Indo-Pacific Ocean/Red Sea

Natural Environment: Encrusts both living and dead coral along reef slopes

General Husbandry: Has a temperature range of 72 to 83°F (20 - 28°C). Rarely seen in the trade, and if so, comes in attached to stony corals. Should be removed as this is a boring sponge and can harm the integrity of the coral skeleton.

Note: For a photo of this sponge, visit the Baensch Marine Atlas Vol. 2, page 34.

Taxonomy: Subphylum Cellularia, Class Demospongiae, Subclass Tetractinomorpha, Order: Hadromerida