Invertebrate
Red Boring Sponge
Cliona delitrixAlso known as Red Encrusting Sponge, Coral-boring Sponge
Red boring sponges are vibrant, encrusting organisms that actively excavate and inhabit the limestone skeletons of live or dead stony corals. They display a brilliant orange to scarlet coloration, punctuated by large, pale-rimmed exhalant pores that filter massive quantities of seawater daily. While they play a vital role in recycling calcium carbonate on Caribbean reefs, their aggressive growth can weaken coral structures and accelerate reef erosion.
MarineReef-DwellerInvertebrate
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyBacterioplankton, Unicellular Algae, Organic Detritus
Predators
- Hawksbill Sea Turtle
- Rock Beauty Angelfish
- Nudibranchs
ThreatsOcean acidification, warming sea temperatures, and loss of host coral species
HabitatsShallow coral reefs and rocky marine substrates
Life spanSeveral decades
Classification
- FamilyClionaidae
- SpeciesCliona delitrix
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
- Look for the color: Spot these sponges by their bright red or orange encrusting patches on living or dead coral heads.
- Observe the pores: Look closely to see the prominent, white-ringed exhalant pores dotting the sponge's surface.
- Do not touch: Avoid touching the sponge or the host coral to prevent damaging the fragile reef structure.
Image unavailableCompetitor 
Frequent Companion (c) NOAA Photo Library, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-byClose Relative
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