Black Ball Sponge
Black-Ball Sponge
| Name: | Black Ball Sponge |
| Scientific Name: | Ircinia strobilina |
| Family: | Ball Sponges |
| Taxonomic: | Irciniidae |
| ID Group: | Sponges, Bryozoans, Tunicates |
| Size: | up to 2 ft. |
| Depth Range: | In shallow waters (0 – 15 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Seen often |
This Sponge has a round shape with a rough surface covered in cone-shaped bumps. Its color is usually gray or black, and it has several small clusters of openings. Some of its bumps may have white tips.
The Black Ball Sponge often shelters tiny animals such as shrimp and worms. It also releases a strong-smelling chemical that helps protect it from being eaten.