Spongivore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A spongivore is an organism that feeds primarily on animals of the Phylum Porifera, commonly called sea sponges.
[edit] Examples
The hawksbill turtle is one of the few animals known to feed primarily on sponges. It is the only known spongivorous reptile.[1] Sponges of various select species constitute up to 95% of the diets of Caribbean hawksbill turtle populations.[2]
Pomacanthus imperator, the emperor angelfish, is a known spongivorous coral reef fish.[3][4]
Certain species of Nudibranchs are known so feed selectively on specific species of sponges.
[edit] References
- ^ Species Booklet: Hawksbill sea turtle. Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service. Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries. Retrieved on 2007-02-06.
- ^ Meylan, Anne (1988-01-12). "Spongivory in Hawksbill Turtles: A Diet of Glass". Science 239 (4838): 393–395. American Association for the Advancement of Science.
- ^ Thacker, Robert W.; Mikel A. Becerro, Wilfred A. Lumbang, and Valerie J. Paula (1997-08-19). "Allelopathic interactions between sponges on a tropical reef". Ecology 79 (5): 1740–1750. Ecological Society of America.
- ^ Ferreira, C. E. L.; S. R. Floeter, J. L. Gasparini, B. P. Ferreira and J. C. Joyeux (2004). "Trophic structure patterns of Brazilian reef fishes: a latitudinal comparison". Journal of Biogeography 31 (7): 1093–1106. Blackwell Publishing. doi:.
