Also known as Marine Sponges, Siliceous Sponges, Volcano Sponge, Giant Barrel Sponge and Great Vase Sponge.
Found singly or in small groups on coral and rocky reef flats and reef faces.
Various creatures can often be found resting inside these sponges.
They feed on plankton.
Length - 1.5m
Depth - 10-30m
Widespread Indo West-Pacific
Sponges come in a range of sizes from minuscule encrusting species under rocks to massive sponges which can be up to one and half metres high.
They are able to filter many litres of sea water every few seconds.
Sponges can exude highly toxic chemicals and so have very few predators apart from nudibranchs, sea stars, sea urchins and umbrella shell.
Their colour can vary if growing in the light or when growing in the shade. (edit)