About Chondrilla nucula Schmidt, 1862
Chondrilla nucula, sometimes referred to as the Caribbean chicken-liver sponge, is a species of sea sponge in the family Chondrillidae. This sponge has an amorphous shape, growing as flat, occasionally bulbous sheets within benthic communities. It can sometimes be found in marginal, high-stress environments such as caves. Specimens growing in caves are white, as they lack access to sunlight and do not host photosymbionts. The hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, is known to prey on this sponge. Strains of bacteria isolated from Chondrilla nucula have been found to have antimicrobial properties. These properties are able to inhibit certain bacteria that are harmful to humans, including Staphylococcus aureus.
