Chelonaplysilla violacea is common under rocks or exposed on the reef. Under rocks, this species is usually encrusting on hard surfaces, but when exposed it often grows into a clump that is sometimes not attached to the bottom. Several different kinds of nudibranchs have been found eating this purple sponge.
The Goniobranchus fidelis below appears to be eating the yellow Aplysilla sulfurea.
A grazing trail on the upper mid section of the encrusting Chelonaplysilla violacea colony below were made by the juvenile Goniobranchus fidelis crawling away at lower left.
A species commonly found eating this sponge is Goniobranchus geometricus.
The colony below looks as though it has been attacked by grazers, but none were present when the photo was taken.
Clumping varieties of the sponge are figured below.
Created 20 May 2019