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Massive Stalked Sponge
During Dive 12 of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition, the team encountered this sponge, Caulophacus oxydiscus, that towered an impressive +3 meters tall (9.8 feet) with a head that was 50 centimeters (20 inches) across. The sponge was growing almost perpendicular to the seafloor, rising into the water column to gain better access to food floating by.