Niphates digitalis

Niphates digitalis, commonly known as the pink vase sponge, is a species of sea sponge belonging to the family Niphatidae. 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]

Pink vase sponge
The pink vase sponge (Niphates digitalis) is seen in the back of the photo, behind three other species of sponges.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Porifera
Class:	Demospongiae
Order:	Haplosclerida
Family:	Niphatidae
Genus:	Niphates
Species:	N. digitalis
Binomial name
Niphates digitalis (Lamarck, 1814)
Synonyms
List Dasychalina cyathina de Laubenfels, 1936 Gelliodes cyathina (De Laubenfels, 1936) Sclerochalina cyathus Schmidt, 1870 Spongia digitalis Lamarck, 1814 Tuba crispa Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864*Tuba digitalis, Lamarck, 1814 Tuba incerta Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 Tuba pavonina Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864

Characteristics

The pink vase sponge is a demosponge that can grow up to 50 cm in height and width, but is more commonly smaller. It is normally vase-, tube-, or cup-shaped with a narrow base and broader top, and somewhat flattened when viewed in cross section. Rarely, it can 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 6-mm-long conules or spines.^[3]

Chemistry

Compounds extracted from the pink vase sponge have been investigated for their possible use in the treatment of castration recurrent prostate cancer.^[4] A common reagent used in organic chemistry 1,8-diazabicycloundec-7-ene can be isolated from this sponge.^[5]