Invertebrate
Azure Vase Sponge
Callyspongia pliciferaAlso known as Crevalle Sponge, Blue Vase Sponge
Azure vase sponges anchor to hard coral substrates, forming striking fluorescent pink, purple, or electric blue urns with deeply grooved, convoluted outer walls. They pump gallons of seawater daily through an intricate labyrinth of internal collar cells, capturing microscopic food particles while expelling clarified water through the wide central osculum. By filtering the water column and providing safe microhabitats for snapping shrimp and small gobies, these sponges play an essential role in reef health.
MarineFilter FeederCoral Reef
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyMarine bacteria, Microscopic plankton, Suspended organic particles
Predators
- Hawksbill Sea Turtle
- French Angelfish
- Queen Angelfish
ThreatsOcean warming, sedimentation, physical damage from boat anchors, and diving disturbance
HabitatsDeep coral reefs, hardbottom shelves, and outer reef drop-offs
Life span10–50 years
Classification
- FamilyCallyspongiidae
- SpeciesCallyspongia plicifera
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Buoyancy Control: Maintain neutral buoyancy while scuba diving to avoid kicking sediment or breaking delicate sponge rims with fins.
- No-Touch Etiquette: Never grab or squeeze the sponge, as human touch easily damages its thin epithelial tissue and clogs feeding pores.
- Underwater Lighting: Use a dive torch to reveal its brilliant natural fluorescent hues, which look muted brown under ambient blue ocean light.
Image unavailableSame Genus 
Reef Companion (c) NOAA Photo Library, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Predator "Hawksbill Turtle" by Tchami is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Predator (c) desertnaturalist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by desertnaturalist · cc-by
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