Giant Barrel Sponge
| Name: | Giant Barrel Sponge |
| Scientific Name: | Xestospongia muta |
| Family: | Barrel Sponges |
| Taxonomic: | Petrosiidae |
| ID Group: | Sponges, Bryozoans, Tunicates |
| Size: | up to 6.5 ft. |
| Depth Range: | Various depths (0 – 130 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Seen sometimes |
This huge Sponge has a massive, reddish-brown body with jagged rims and a deeply grooved exterior. It typically grows alone, though smaller sponges are often found clustered around its base.
Although the Giant Barrel Sponge is sturdy, its rims can be easily damaged. Specimens measuring three to four feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters) are estimated to be 100 to 200 years old. It is one of the longest-lived animals on Earth. Small creatures often take shelter in its grooves.