Deepwater Sponge [Caulophacus abyssalis]
Description
The Deepwater Sponge is a species of glass sponge that thrives in the deep-sea environments of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. This sponge is typically found at depths of 200 to 6,000 meters. It has a robust, globe-shaped body with a large central osculum. Its skeleton is composed of intricate, siliceous spicules that form a strong, lattice-like structure.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Sponges
Porifera
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Demospongiae
Demospongiae
|
| Order |
Tetractinellida
Tetractinellida
|
| Family |
Carnivorous Sponges
Cladorhizidae
|
| Genus |
Caulophacus
Caulophacus
|