Glass sponge at a depth of 3,400 meters (2.1 miles). The sponge looks very similar to Poliopogon cf. amadou, which has been reported from the mid and eastern North Atlantic at similar depths, but has not yet been identified from the Caribbean. A sample of this sponge was collected, as it may represent a substantial range extension.
Glass Sponge
Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Deep-sea Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Download larger version (jpg, 1.4 MB).
Glass sponge at a depth of 3,400 meters (2.1 miles). The sponge looks very similar to Poliopogon cf. amadou, which has been reported from the mid and eastern North Atlantic at similar depths, but has not yet been identified from the Caribbean. A sample of this sponge was collected, as it may represent a substantial range extension.
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