A phylum of simple multicellular animals, with a simple body enclosing a single central cavity or penetrated by numerous interconnected cavities. Water is drawn into the internal cavities through pores, food particles are taken out and the water flows out through a large pore (osculum).
The following taxa of this phylum occur in the region:
Agelas clathrodes (Orange elephant ear sponge)
Agelas conifera (Brown tube sponge)
Agelas nsp.
Aiolochroia crassa (Branching tube sponge)
Aka coralliphaga (Variable boring sponge)
Amphimedon viridis
Anthosigmella varians (Brown vulcano carpet sponge)
Aplysina archeri (Stove-pipe sponge)
Aplysina cauliformis (Row pore rope sponge)
Aplysina fistularis (Yellow tube sponge)
Aplysina fulva (Scattered pore rope sponge)
Aplysina lacunosa (Convoluted barrel sponge)
Axinyssa ambrosia
Biemna caribea
Callyspongia fallax (Chimney sponge)
Callyspongia plicifera (Azure vase sponge)
Callyspongia vaginalis (Branching vase sponge)
Chondrilla nucula (Chicken-liver sponge)
Clathria raraechelae
Cliona spp. (Boring sponge)
Desmapsamma anchorata (Lumpy overgrowing sponge)
Dysidea etheria (Heavenly sponge)
Ectyoplasia ferox (Brown encrusting octopus sponge)
Haliclona vansoesti
Halisarca caerulea (Star encrusting sponge)
Hyrtios proteus
Iotrochota birotulata (Green finger sponge)
Ircinia campana (Vase sponge)
Ircinia felix (Stinker sponge)
Ircinia strobilina (Black-ball sponge)
Monanchora arbuscula (Red encrusting sponge)
Mycale laevis (Orange icing sponge)
Mycale laxissima (Red vase sponge)
Myrmekioderma gyroderma (Convoluted orange sponge)
Neofibularia nolitangere (Touch-me-not-sponge)
Niphates erecta (Lavender rope sponge)
Niphates recondita
Pandaros acanthifolium
Petrosia weinbergi
Plakortis angulospiculatus (Viscous sponge)
Pseudaxinella reticulata (Zea's sponge)
Pseudaxinella zeai (Dark volcano sponge)
Ptilocaulis walpersi
Scopalina ruetzleri (Orange lumpy encrusting sponge)
Spheciospongia vesparium (Loggerhead sponge)
Tedania ignis (Fire sponge)
Tethya spp.
Topsentia ophiraphidites
Verongula rigida
Xestospongia muta (Giant barrel sponge)