Small piles of sand were seen behind the larger elephant ear sponges (Phakellia connexiva) observed during Dive 04 of the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration. These piles form when the front of a sponge absorbs most of the current, enabling the sediments to settle out rather than being swept away by the current.
Sponge
Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration. Download larger version (jpg, 1.3 MB).
Small piles of sand were seen behind the larger elephant ear sponges (Phakellia connexiva) observed during Dive 04 of the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration. These piles form when the front of a sponge absorbs most of the current, enabling the sediments to settle out rather than being swept away by the current.
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