Glass Sponge

Rossella racovitzae

Glass Sponge

An Antarctic glass sponge that drops its silica spicules onto soft seabed, slowly building hard mats that let other life take hold. It is a suspension feeder, and even carries photosynthetic diatoms inside its cells, though what they do there is still unclear.

Taxonomy: Animalia › Porifera › Hexactinellida › Lyssacinosida › Rossellidae › Rossella

Species data via the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), AphiaID 172104.

FAQ

How deep does the Glass Sponge live?
The Glass Sponge (Rossella racovitzae) is typically found at 18–2000 m.
Is the Glass Sponge dangerous to divers?
The Glass Sponge is harmless to divers.