Marine sponges are fascinating creatures of the aquatic world. Though they are often mistaken for plants, sponges are actually among the simplest animals on the planet and among the earliest ancestors of the animal kingdom.
Despite lacking muscles, organs, and nerve cells, sponges still feed themselves, grow, and reproduce. Their soft bodies are supported by a fibrous skeleton and are riddled with canals lined with specialized cells that enable them to feed. They can grow in both fresh water and salt water, but the vast majority of sponges are found in the ocean. Marine sponges can grow to be large, beautiful features of an ocean ecosystem. Their bodies can become homes to other organisms, some giving color to the sponge. Listed below are five types of marine sponges to keep an eye out for on your next snorkel or dive adventure.
Tube Sponge
There are many different species of tube sponges, but all possess the similar characteristic of having long, cylindrical hollow structures. Some can grow to be five feet in length. Most are found growing in coral reefs and drop-off zones in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. A common variety is the Yellow Tube sponge found in the Caribbean.
Fan Sponge
Fan sponges naturally develop in the shape of a handheld fan and can grow up to three feet in height. They are typically found in tropical waters on reefs or rock shelves. Orange fan sponges are the most common and very popular for aquariums.
Barrel Sponge
This type of sponge belongs to the class Demospongiae, which comprises 95 percent of all sponge species. It is shaped exactly as its name suggests: like a barrel. The giant barrel sponge is the most common and can grow large enough to fit a human inside its inner cavity.=
Vase Sponge
Vase sponges are similar to barrel sponges in shape and are often found growing in coral reefs. These marine sponges are popular for collecting and are usually harvested to sell. The azure vase sponge is the most well-known because it is one of the most colorful sponges in the world.
Carnivorous Sponge
These highly specialized marine sponges grow in areas with little nutrition available to the sponge, particularly the deep sea. Carnivorous sponges adapted specialized body parts to capture small crustaceans in the ocean with which to supplement their diet. These specialized parts include barbs, hooks, and floating arms, making them far different from the others on our list and some of the most fascinating sponge species.
