These conspicuous signals provide better protection to the individual or to its genes than would other (e.g.

Some predators avoid attacking it because of its signals.

If It is conspicuously coloured, or advertises itself by means of some other signals.

If it is poison some predators will not eat it.

Spongivores have learned four things about sponges aposematism and they are as follows:

Sponges have also developed aposematism to help avoid predation. If a sponge contains spicules along with organic compounds, the likelihood of those sponges being consumed by spongivores decrease. One of the most common structural strategies that sponges have that prevents them from being consumed by predators is by having spicules. The use of structural and chemical strategies found in sponges are used to deter predation. Sponge defenses increase survival and/or reproduction ( fitness) of sponges under pressure of predation from a spongivore. This is measured relative to another sponge that lacks the defensive trait. Sponge defense Ī sponge defense is a trait that increases a sponge fitness when faced with a spongivore. Spongivores also have enough brain development to be able to remember the same species of sponge it has eaten in the past and will continue to eat in the future. Therefore, spongivores are able to consume a variety of sponges without getting harmed. Spongivores have adapted to be able to handle the secondary metabolites that sponges have. A spongivore would bite small sample of sponges and if they were unharmed that they would continue eating that specific sponge and then move on to another sponge of the same colour. Ĭhoice based on colour was involved based on which sponge the spongivore would choose to eat. Spongivores have three primary strategies for dealing with sponge defenses: choice based on colour, able to handle secondary metabolites and brain development for memory. These skills allow spongivores to increase their feeding and use of sponges. The many defenses displayed by sponges means that their spongivores need to learn skills to overcome these defenses to obtain their food. Turret sponge, eaten by some spongivores. Ĭertain species of nudibranchs are known to feed selectively on specific species of sponges. The rock beauty Holocanthus tricolor is also spongivorous, with sponges making up 96% of their diet. Pomacanthus imperator, the emperor angelfish Lactophrys bicaudalis, the spotted trunkfish and Stephanolepis hispidus, the planehead filefish are known spongivorous coral reef fish. Sponges of various select species constitute up to 95% of the diets of Caribbean hawksbill turtle populations. It is the only known spongivorous reptile.

The hawksbill turtle is one of the few animals known to feed primarily on sponges. As a result of their diet, spongivore animals like the hawksbill turtle have developed sharp, narrow bird-like beak that allows them to reach within crevices on the reef to obtain sponges. A spongivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating animals of the phylum Porifera, commonly called sea sponges, for the main component of its diet.

Hawksbill sea turtle predators