Azure Vase Sponge in Cozumel
Azure Vase Sponge (*Callyspongia plicifera*) in Cozumel: how to identify it, where it grows, and why it fluoresces.
A vivid electric blue-violet vase with a deeply grooved, folded surface. The colour is genuinely fluorescent and reads as neon under a torch.
Quick ID
| Scientific name | Callyspongia plicifera |
|---|---|
| Group | Sponges |
| Typical size | 15–40 cm tall |
| Depth range | 10–30 m |
| When to see it | Year-round |
| Active | Filters continuously |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Notes | — |
Where You Will See It In Cozumel
Wall faces and overhangs at Santa Rosa, Palancar Caves and Punta Tunich, usually tucked out of direct light.
Reliable sites: Santa Rosa Wall, Palancar Caves, Punta Tunich.
Behaviour
Filters water through the vase wall and expels it through the central opening. The blue-violet colour comes from pigments that appear to protect the sponge from light.
Commonly Confused With
- Branching vase sponge — Branching vase sponges are pink-brown and lobed rather than a single smooth violet vase.
- Stove-pipe sponge — Stove-pipe sponges form clusters of tall tubes, usually grey or purple-brown.
Diving Etiquette And Safety
Do not touch. Sponge surfaces carry a living layer that damages easily.
Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip
Photo: Nick Hobgood, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
