Earlobe Sponge (9”-10”)

Carnivorous sponges represent a novel innovation within phylum Porifera. These sponges lack or have a reduced aquiferous system, and instead feed by passively capturing prey items such as larvae or small crustaceans. Carnivorous sponges are typically erect, with stalked or branching bodies and a large number of thin filaments. Prey items become entangled in the filaments, and are subsequently gradually enveloped and digested by sponge cells migrating to the area of contacts. Carnivory is typically assumed to be an adaptation to oligotrophic conditions in the deep sea, where traditional filter feeding is less effective. While these sponges are reasonably common in shallow waters, they constitute a larger and more conspicuous part of the total sponge fauna at greater depths