Leucettusa lancifer is also known as the flask sponge. It gets its common name from its shape. It grows to be 8 to 10 cm in height. It is attached at the bottom with a narrow neck that expands to a round vase like body. At the top the osculum, the hole where water flows out of the sponge, completes the vase appearance.

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Flask sponges have calcareous spicules, meaning their skeleton is made of calcium. Their bodies are white, but sometimes they have a pink tint. It is found around New Zealand, however I was unable to find a complete distribution. L. lancifer, is listed in the species found in the Great Barrier Reef. They live at depths of 20 meters.

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They filter feed like most sponges, pulling in water through pore cells and filtering out nutrients. I learned that flask sponges are brittle and hard to the touch. They live in deep water reefs and they look like little bottles or vases.

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Author: Holly H

Published: 05/2008

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Sources:

http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/SeaLife/MarineAnimalsWithoutBackbones/1/ ENZ-Resources/Standard/3/3/en http://www.marinespecies.org/porifera/porifera.php?p=taxdetails&id=164724