Pink Vase Sponge

Pink Vase Sponge
The Pink Vase Sponge (Niphates digitalis) seen in the back of the picture, behind three other species of sponge.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Haplosclerida
Family: Niphatidae
Genus: Niphates
Species: N. digitalis
Binomial name
Niphates digitalis
(Lamarck, 1814)
Synonyms
  • Spongia digitalis, Lamarck, 1814
  • Dasychalina cyathina, de Laubenfels, 1936
  • Sclerochalina cyathus, Schmidt, 1870
  • Tuba digitalis, Lamarck, 1814
  • Tuba crispa, Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864
  • Tuba incerta, Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864
  • Tuba pavonina, Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864

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

  1. 1 2 "Niphates digitalis". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "Niphates digitalis (Lamarck, 1814)". World Porifera Database. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Niphates digitalis (Lamarck, 1814) Haplosclerida, Niphatidae". Portol.org. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  4. ↑ Meimetis LG, Williams DE, Mawji NR, Banuelos CA, Lal AA, Park JJ, Tien AH, Fernandez JG, de Voogd NJ, Sadar MD, Andersen RJ. (2012). "Niphatenones, glycerol ethers from the sponge Niphates digitalis block androgen receptor transcriptional activity in prostate cancer cells: structure elucidation, synthesis, and biological activity.". J Med Chem 55 (1): 503–14. doi:10.1021/jm2014056. PMID 22148427.
  5. ↑ Smitha, Graham and Lynchb, Daneil E. (2016). "Crystal structures of three anhydrous salts of the Lewis base 1,8-di-aza-bicyclo-[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) with the ring-substituted benzoic acid analogues 4-amino-benzoic acid, 3,5-di-nitro-benzoic acid and 3,5-di-nitro-salicylic acid". Acta Crystallogr E Crystallogr Commun. 72 (3): 382–386. doi:10.1107/S205698901600267X. PMID 27006813.
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