Purple Tube Sponge
| Name: | Purple Tube Sponge |
| Scientific Name: | Callyspongia fallax |
| Family: | Sponges |
| Taxonomic: | Callyspongiidae |
| ID Group: | Sponges, Bryozoans, Tunicates |
| Size: | up to 4 in. |
| Depth Range: | On the reef (10 – 60 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Seen sometimes |
The Purple Tube Sponge forms clustered or tangled tubes that are pale blue, purple, pinkish, pale brownish, gray, or off-white. Its surface is smooth and can appear velvety, though it may also be slightly irregular in some forms.
This Sponge is found in groups on the shallow reef, especially on ledges, under overhangs, and in coral crevices. It also occurs in mangroves. It is a filter feeder that continuously pumps water through its body, trapping tiny plankton and other organic particles for food.