Giant Barrel Sponge is the largest species of sponge found growing on Caribbean coral reefs, common at depths greater than 10 meters down to 120 meters and reaching a diameter of up to 1.8 meters. It is typically brownish red to brownish gray in color, with a hard or stony texture.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Living or Extinct Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Xestospongia muta
In Biome
Source Giant barrel sponge (Wikipedia)
In Ecosystem
Source SeaLifeBase: Xestospongia muta
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Giant barrel sponge (Wikipedia)
- IUCN status field, species infobox
Lead section
The giant barrel sponge has been called the "redwood of the reef" because of its large size and its long lifespan, which can be more than 2,000 years.
Infobox: taxon
Xestospongia muta
Article text
The giant barrel sponge is a filter feeder.
- In Biome: Coral Reef, Introduction
View the Source2. Giant barrel sponge (Xestospongia muta) (Wikipedia)
present tense, common on Caribbean reefs, monitored since 1997View the Source GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Xestospongia muta
GBIF Backbone TaxonomyChild Taxon Of: Demospongiae, Taxon recordQuote, Child Taxon Of: Demospongiae, Taxon record
"class": "Demospongiae"
SeaLifeBase: Xestospongia muta
SeaLifeBaseIn Ecosystem: Coral Reef Systems, BiologyQuote, In Ecosystem: Coral Reef Systems, Biology
Inhabits shallow coral reefs, coral communities, coralline algae reefs, algal nodules, and mesophotic reefs (Ref. 128739 ).
GBIF: Xestospongia muta (Schmidt, 1870)
GBIFIn Group: Demosponges (Demospongiae), Species recordQuote, In Group: Demosponges (Demospongiae), Species record
class: Demospongiae
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