Stove Pipe Sponge Fact Sheet Common Name: Stove-Pipe Sponge Scientific Name: Aplysina archeri Wild Status: Unknown Habitat: Coral Reefs Country: Caribbean, Bahamas, Southwest USA Shelter: Rocks, Coral Life Span: Unknown Size: 5ft tall Details Sponges are some of the strangest, most captivating animals in our oceans. Often confused for plants or rocks, these immobile invertebrates lack not only a spine, but a heart, brain, digestive system, respiratory system, and pretty much any organ that is similar to a human's. Although they have been used by humans for cleaning, these days they are free to filter the water around them as nature intended. This specific type of sponge is found in groups of 22 or more sponges, as opposed to the Red Encrusting Sponge, which tends to be more solitary (or as solitary as sponges can be). Cool Facts • These sponges are found in groups of 22 individual sponges • Their common name describes their shape and appearance in terms humans can relate to • Like the Purple Vase Sponge, small marine creatures such as • Like jellyfish, they do not have a digestive tract • They filter plankton and bits of organic matter from the water around them. They can be thought of as underwater air purifiers • Although they filter the ocean, there are things they cannot clean, such as plastic bags. It is our responsibility as humans to clean up where other organisms cannot Taxonomic Breakdown Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Porifera Class: Demospongiae Order: Verongida Family: Aplysinidae Genus: Aplysina Species: A. archeri Conservation & Helping The conservation status of any one species of sea sponge is difficult to measure as there are more species than scientists can currently keep up with. Because all sea sponges and other coral reef animals are harmed by pollution and climate change, it is best to assume all sponges are in danger and focus efforts on reducing further damage. Download all our fact sheets, take our quizzes, and more, all in the Critter Squad Kids’ Zone! https://www.crittersquad.com/kids-zone/.