Orange sponge

Biology

It lives the intertidal zone, in tide pools, and may prefer depths of up to 15 metres. Colouration varies with depth; near the shore it is yellow to orange and at increased depths, blood-red or darker. It has an irregular surface, often with lower or higher irregular projections. In sheltered areas, these projections are larger, while in areas with a stronger current the surface may be completely smooth. They feed by filtering small suspended particles from the water.

Curiosities

Sponges can filter an amount of water 100,000 times their size each day.