#barrel sponge

[ghschwering]

A great dive in Cozumel. It started with a beautiful sunrise before we headed out across the water.

[protectoursharks]

Xestospongia testudinaria or Barrel Sponge These sponges can grow big enough to fit a person inside of them, growing up to 2 m (around 6ft)! These large sponges can be found in the tropic areas of the western Pacific and are members of the class Demospongiae (which contains around 95% of sponge species).

[cristalplanetheart]

[snototter]

Barrel Sponges (Xestospongia testudinaria) on the shores of Pulau Sekudu, Singapore by Ria Tan

[psikonauti]

Barrel sponge, Xestospongia

[oceansoftheworld]

(Photo 1/Photo 2/Photo 3/Info)

The giant barrel sponge (Xestospongia muta) is the largest species of sponge found growing on Caribbean coral reefs. It is common at depths greater than 10 metres (33 ft) down to 120 metres (390 ft) and can reach a diameter of 1.8 metres (6 feet). The giant barrel sponge has been called the "redwood of the reef" because of its size and estimated lifespan of hundreds to a thousand or more years.

The giant barrel sponge is a filter feeder. Water is continually pumped into the sides of the sponge, through the sponge body, and out of the osculum at the top of the sponge. Small pores in the sponge body are connected to channels lined by collar cells, each with a flagellum, and the beating of these flagellae draws water through the channels. Incoming particles, particularly microscopic bacteria and prochlorophytes, are phagocytosed by the collar cells. Sponges like X. muta also absorb dissolved organic compounds directly from the seawater as part of their diet.

The giant barrel sponge is probably dioecious, and spawns its eggs or sperm directly into the water column. Clouds of sperm from males are emitted from the osculum, while females produce flocculent masses of eggs that are slightly negatively buoyant. Fertilization occurs in the water column. Resulting sponge larvae disperse with ocean currents, but there is some genetic differentiation among populations from Florida, the Bahamas and Belize.

[h0useofw0lves]

vaguna