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Abstract
The complex interactions between sponges and corals are likely to increase and remain more successful for sponges in physically stressed habitats. Recovery of these corals is dubious when sponges take over and end up dominating them. The present paper deals with theobservation of a new report on coral-overgrowing growth form of Clathriareinwardtii from GoM, southeast India. A total of 624 coral colonies were surveyed along the transects. Of them 57.21% were branching corals dominated by A. muricata and the coral massive category were dominated by 38.14% of P. solida (N=238). The sponge overgrows the live coral colonies of A. muricata (N=357) with an average infestation rate of 29.13%. P. solida (N=238) showed an infestation rate of 14.71% (N=35). Directed long-term monitoring is a fundamental requirement for deciding the major factors benefiting the sponge progress over the coral and to further investigate the impact of sponge-coral cooperation on reef ecology.