Blue Barrel Sponge Fact Sheet Common Name: Blue Barrel Sponge, Giant Barrel Sponge, Marine Sponges, Siliceous Sponges, Volcano Sponge Scientific Name: Xestospongia muta Wild Status: Least Concern Habitat: Found on coral and rocky reef flats Country: Caribbean Sea, Bahamas, Bermuda, Florida, Gulf of Mexico Shelter: Shallow water, Under-hangs, Caves Life Span: 2000 years Size: Diameter of 6 feet Details The Blue Barrel Sponge is one of the largest species of sponge and lives mostly in the Caribbean. They can grow up to 35 feet and have a diameter of 6 feet and live up to 2000 years. As the sponge ages it begins to grow slower and take a long time to finally reach it's full size. Sponges do not have a cardiovascular system and have to have a constant water flow in order to have food, remove waste and have oxygen. They are filter feeders. The body of the sponge has many canals which helps filter the water through their bodies. The canals are lined with cells called Choanocytes which are flagellated. The Flagellum creates a rhythmical beating so water can move easily and food can become trapped. Blue Barrel Sponge can reproduce asexually or sexually because it's a hermaphrodite. They are important to the coral reef in that they provide a habitat for crabs, shrimps, gobies, etc. Cool Facts • The Blue Barrel Sponge dominates coral reef communities. • The Blue Barrel Sponge community in Florida Keys from Conch Reef has been studied since 1997. • The Blue Barrel Sponge is a filter feeder. • The Blue Barrel Sponges' tissues contains photosynthetic symbiotic cyanobacteria which gives it its color. • The Blue Barrel Sponge provides a habitat for various invertebrates. • The Blue Barrel Sponge has the nickname "Redwood of the Reef" because of its size and lifespan. Taxonomic Breakdown Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Porifera Class: Demospongiae Order: Haplosclerida Family: Petrosiidae Genus: Xestospongia Species: Xestospongia muta Conservation & Helping The Blue Barrel Sponge population is increasing but no one knows why. The speculation is that they can adapt better to environmental changes better than corals do and are moving into space left behind by dead coral. The fear is that the increase in population will do damage to the coral reefs because the sponges take up the space that baby coral need. So far nothing is being done to alter or stop the increase. Download all our fact sheets, take our quizzes, and more, all in the Critter Squad Kids’ Zone! https://www.crittersquad.com/kids-zone/.