Circular Column Sponge
| Name: | Circular Column Sponge |
| Scientific Name: | Topsentia ophiraphidites |
| Family: | Halichondriidae |
| Taxonomic: | Halichondriidae |
| ID Group: | Sponges, Bryozoans, Tunicates |
| Size: | up to 18 in. |
| Depth Range: | On the reef (10 – 60 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Seen often |
This Sponge grows tall, upright columns that usually rise from a circular base. Its color is dark orange to brown, and it often has a small osculum (an exit hole) at the top where water flows out.
The Circular Column Sponge typically grows in vertical formations. Golden Zoanthids commonly grow on its surface, with their bright orange-yellow polyps often covering much of the sponge, especially in shallow waters.