![]() ![]() Their huge central cavity also acts as habitat for fish, shrimp and other reef invertebrates. ![]() #5: Giant barrel sponges are so important for the coral reefs!Īlthough they never move, giant barrel sponges play an active role on the reef! By filtering thousands of gallons each day, sponges clean the surrounding water and keep the reef clear of excess organic waste. They typically live below 30 feet of water and have been seen at depths up to 300 feet! Scientists have also observed populations in the Gulf of Mexico. They are found on reefs from Bermuda to Belize. In addition to being the largest sponge species in the Caribbean, giant barrel sponges are also one of the most abundant. It continuously pumps water around the clock, never taking a break! The sponge uses collar cells with microscopic flagella to force water into pores on its side and eventually out into its central cavity (called the osculum). In a single day, a giant barrel sponge may filter over a thousand gallons of water! Giant barrel sponges are filter feeders and pump seawater through their bodies to extract floating nutrients. #3: Giant barrel sponges are filter feeders. Over many decades, they eventually reach their imposing height. Scientists refer to giant barrel sponges as “redwoods of the reef” because of their incredible life span – the oldest ever recorded was estimated to have lived for 2300 years! 2 The sponge in this photo is likely much younger but could be anywhere from a few decades to a hundred years old.ĭespite their massive size, giant barrel sponges are thought to grow slowly and are only a centimeter or two long when they start their lives. ![]() #2: Giant barrel sponges are the “redwoods of the reef.” They are the largest sponge species in the Caribbean and can easily grow to the size of a bathtub! Giant barrel sponges tower over the reef, growing up to six feet across and ten feet high. ![]() #1: The giant barrel sponge is, well, giant. It is reddish and brown in color and a particularly interesting species on Conch Reef in the Florida Keys, where it has been studied and monitored since 1997. The giant barrel sponge ( Xestospongia muta) is the Caribbean’s most iconic massive reef invertebrate and can be found throughout the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. ![]()
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