Florent's Guide To The Florida, Bahamas &

Caribbean Reefs

Walper's Branching Sponge
Ptilocaulis walpersii
Walper's Branching Sponge
Category: Common Sponges
Scientific Name: Ptilocaulis walpersii
Size: up to 12 in. (30 cm)  
Depth: 2-140 ft. (1-43 m)
Distribution: Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida
Porifera (Phylum)
└Demospongiae (Class)
 └Heteroscleromorpha (Subclass)
  └Axinellida (Order)
   └Axinellidae (Family)
    └Ptilocaulis (Genus)
     └P. walpersii (Species)

Sponges
Common Sponges

Walper's Branching Sponge

Brown Encrusting Octopus Sponge

Touch-Me-Not Sponge

Coral Encrusting Sponge

Cliona tenuis

Brown Variable Sponge

Red Boring Sponge

Loggerhead Sponge

Red-Orange Encrusting Sponge

Orange Sieve Encrusting Sponge

Pink and Red Encrusting Sponge

High-Veined Encrusting Sponge

Pink Purple Octopus Sponge

Branching Vase Sponge

Azure Vase Sponge

Elongated Vase Sponge

Erect Rope Sponge

Brown Bowl Sponge

Pink Vase Sponge

Lavender Rope Spounge

Neopetrosia rosariensis

Giant Barrel Sponge

Variable Boring Sponge

Rough Tube Sponge

Red Encrusting Sponge

Pink Lumpy Sponge

Lumpy Overgrowing Sponge

Green Finger Sponge

Orange-Veined Encrusting Sponge

Pandaros acanthifolium

Strawberry Vase Sponge

Orange Icing Sponge

Orange Lumpy Encrusting Sponge

Dark Volcano Sponge

Circular Column Sponge

Dercitus (Halinastra) luteus

Leathery Barrel Sponge

Orange Ball Sponge

Bell Sponge

Stinker Sponge

Black-Ball Sponge

Smenospongia aurea

Smenospongia conulosa

Star Encrusting Sponge

Branching Tube Sponge

Stove-Pipe Sponge

Row Pore Rope Sponge

Yellow Tube Sponge

Scattered Pore Rope Sponge

Branchlet Sponge

Convoluted Barrel Sponge

Netted Barrel Sponge

Reticulated Barrel Sponge

Pitted Sponge

Brain Sponge

Citron Sponge

Orange Elephant Ear Sponge

Brown Tube Sponge

Tubulate Sponge

Brown Clustered Tube Sponge



All Photographs
© 2026 Florent Charpin