Neofibularia nolitangere (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864)
Touch-me-not sponge
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Family:  Desmacellidae ()
Max. size:  80 cm WD (male/unsexed)
Environment:  sessile; marine; depth range 2 - 70 m
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic.
Diagnosis:  Thick encrusting: 0.4 - 3 cm, or massive to large vases: up to 80 cm wide and high. Brown-red in color externally, tan internally. Surface varies from smooth and porous, to corrugated and micro hispid, somewhat velvety. Oscules dispersed: 0.3 - 0.6 cm wide. Firm but fragile (Ref. 415).
Biology:  Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 128739. On reef environments, usually under 5 m deep (Ref. 415). Also found in mangroves (Ref. 86836). Dwells in coral reefs or rock pavements in shallow depths. Possibly associated with polychaete worms (Ref. 128739).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans: 
Country info:   
 

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