image
January 23, 2021: Sponge

Imaged during the INDEX 2010: Indonesia-USA Deep-Sea Exploration of the Sangihe Talaud Region expedition, this animal could almost pass for a flower in your garden, but appears to be a sponge - probably a 'carnivorous sponge' of the cladorhizids. Seen at a depth of approximately 1,000 meters (3,280 feet).

Interested in weird and wonderful sponges? Check out this log, “Not Your Average Sponges.”

Credit

Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, INDEX-SATAL 2010.