A large barrel sponge rises from a coral reef in the Caribbean Sea.

Giant Barrel Sponge (Xestospongia muta) — A large barrel sponge rises from a coral reef in the Caribbean Sea.

Creator: Twilight Zone Expedition Team 2007, NOAA-OE. [Wikimedia Commons source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Reef3860_-_Flickr_-_NOAA_Photo_Library.jpg). Dual status: [CC BY 2.0 deed](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en) and [NOAA public-domain statement](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Reef3860_-_Flickr_-_NOAA_Photo_Library.jpg#Licensing).

Licence: CC BY 2.0; also public domain as a U.S. NOAA official-duty work

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Species record

Giant Barrel Sponge

Xestospongia muta

Explore the Giant Barrel Sponge (Xestospongia muta) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

Xestospongia muta is a large, barrel-shaped sponge of Caribbean coral reefs. It pumps seawater through its porous body to filter tiny food particles and adds three-dimensional structure used by reef life.

Classification in this archive

  1. Kingdom: Animals
  2. Phylum: Sponges
  3. Class: Demosponges
  4. Order: Haplosclerida
  5. Family: Petrosiidae
  6. Genus: Xestospongia

Habitat and distribution

Selected documented locations — not a complete species range.

Habitat
Caribbean coral reefs, reef communities deeper than 10 m
Selected regions
North America, South America

Conservation status

Conservation status not recorded.

Did you know?

  • Some giant barrel sponges have been estimated to live for more than 2,000 years.
  • A giant barrel sponge feeds by filtering tiny particles from seawater through its body.

More images

A giant barrel sponge with a damaged rim grows among reef corals.

Giant Barrel Sponge (Xestospongia muta) — A giant barrel sponge grows among reef corals.

Creator: Hickerson/FGBNMS, [Wikimedia Commons source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xestospongia_muta_1.jpg). [NOAA public-domain statement](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xestospongia_muta_1.jpg#Licensing).

Licence: Public domain (U.S. NOAA work)

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Sources and attribution