Pink Vase Sponge
| Pink Vase Sponge | |
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| File:Sponges in Caribbean Sea, Cayman Islands.jpg | |
| The Pink Vase Sponge (Niphates digitalis) seen in the back of the picture, behind three other species of sponge. | |
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N. digitalis
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| Binomial name | |
| Niphates digitalis (Lamarck, 1814)
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Pink Vase Sponge (Niphates digitalis) is a species of demosponge belonging to the Niphatidae family. It is native to the Florida Keys, The Bahamas and the Caribbean including the Netherlands Antilles.[1] The species was first described by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in 1814.[2]
Characteristics
The Pink Vase Sponge is a demosponge that can grow up to 50cm in height and width, but are more commonly smaller. They are normally vase, tube or cup shaped with a narrow base and broader top, and somewhat flattened when viewed in cross section. Rarely, they grow as a fan shape.[3] Despite its name, the colour has been observed as blue, gray and lavender as well as "purplish to pink".[1] The surface is coarse and porous with 6mm long conules or spines.[3]
Uses
Compounds extracted from the Pink Vase Sponge have been investigated for their possible use in the treatment of castration recurrent prostate cancer.[4] The alkaloid 1,8-Diazabicycloundec-7-ene has also been isolated from the sponge and has a number of uses in organic chemistry.[5]
References
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