A delicate, translucent glass sponge stands on a dark rock surrounded by a sandy ocean floor.
image
Glass Sponge
We observed at least three different species of sponges during Dive 08 of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition, including two carnivorous sponges and this urn-shaped glass sponge supported by filaments above the sediment. The glass sponge was collected for further analysis.
Credit

NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration