Sponge · glass sponge

Volcano sponge

Anoxycalyx joubini

PacificAtlanticIndianSouthernArctic A single ocean

Depth

Antarctic shelf seafloor, observed from 25 to 60 m and deeper

Size

Up to 2 m tall and 1 m wide

Diet

Bacteria and tiny particles filtered from the water

Zone

The sea floor · 200 – 3,500 m

Key facts

• It is the largest sponge in the Antarctic.
• One sponge of this species is thought to be about 15,000 years old, a record for an animal.
• For 22 years, none grew on supports placed by researchers. Then some suddenly grew.
• Some weigh more than 70 kg.

Verified sources

1. Dayton et al. 2013, PLoS ONE (via DOAJ)
2. Guinness World Records : longest-lived sponge species
3. SeaLifeBase : Anoxycalyx joubini
4. Dayton et al. 2013 (texte complet, PMC)

In the game: To observe

In the same zone

Southern Ocean yeti crabKiwa tyleri Giant Antarctic octopusMegaleledone setebos Giant Antarctic ribbon wormParborlasia corrugatus Giant scale wormEulagisca gigantea Giant tube wormRiftia pachyptila Pompeii wormAlvinella pompejana