Family: |
Niphatidae () |
Max. size: |
|
Environment: |
sessile; marine |
Distribution: |
Central Pacific: Philippines. Introduced in Hawaiian Islands, Guam and Palmyra Atoll. |
Diagnosis: |
Thickly encrusting mat with anastomosing and meandering branches with some branches erect. Exterior color is blue-gray and interior is grayish beige. Spongy, fibrous, elastic and tough, surface is smooth to irregularly conulose with protruding tufts of fibers. Megascleres: curved oxeas 160 to 180 micrometers, microscleres: small sigmas 15 micrometers. |
Biology: |
Mainly restricted to shallow-water fouling communities of the major harbors or associated disturbed habitats and also on patch reefs, encrusting the shaded underside of plate corals (Ref. 3248). |
IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
|
Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Country info: |
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