Fiordland Underwater

Sponges

Sponges are considered the most primitive of the multicellular animals. But they must have got it right the first time around because they don't seem to have changed much over millions of years.

The sponge below, Latrunculia brevis, is one of the golf ball sponges. A peanut worm clings to its surface.
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Sponges filter organic material out of the water using the co-ordinated beating of hundreds of thousands of tiny hair-like cilia. They are very efficient at this and even small sponges filter a lot of water.

Fiordland hosts at least one species of glass sponge (Hexaspongia) which is found within scuba range.

Some sponges contain powerful natural chemicals which may have anti-cancer properties. At least one New Zealand sponge is currently being cultivated for this reason.

Raspailia sp. a common Fiordland finger sponge. (18.08K)

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Last modified on Monday, September 04, 2000