#red beard sponge

[javieroverthere]

Red beard sponge and the habitat is Sandy Hook national Park in New Jersey . I found this guy as the tide came in on the first beach of the dog friendly area .

[darcsowersnature]

Earlier today, my husband and I took a walk along the beach. There were a number of these ball-like plants, or maybe coral, on the shore. They must have broken loose and washed up on the beach during the recent Nor’easter. 

I used to live in Virginia until I was 11 and spent a lot of time on the beach, but I don’t remember seeing anything like these before. Does anyone know what they are?

edit: After hunting around the internet, we uncovered what our mystery creatures are. They’re Red Beard Sponges! 

They turn a brownish gray when they die, wash up on shore, and dry out. I had no idea we even had sponges in our area. I would have figured the waters were too cold this far north. 

While it’s sad that these little critters didn’t survive the storm, I’m grateful for the chance to learn that they live in our waters, as well as discover a little bit about sponges in general. 

[jadafitch]

Boreal Squid, Rock Crab, Red Beard Sponge, Northern Comb Jelly

[fatchance]

Red beard sponge (Clathria prolifera), at Fort Monroe National Monument, Hampton, Virginia. 

[fatchance]

Beachcombing: Red beard sponge (Microciona prolifera), at Grandview Wildlife Preserve, Hampton, Virginia. 

[pleasurehouseoysters]

“It’s stunning,” said oyster scientist Laurie Sorabella, who is director of Oyster Reef Keepers of Virginia “It makes the oyster reefs look as bright as coral reefs.” Tim Solanic sent this pretty photo, taken by oysterman Chris Ludford of some of Ludford's Pleasure House Point oysters that he raises on the Lynnhaven River.

Thanks for the scoop Laurie and thanks for the article Mary Reid!