Image 1-17
Tube Sponge Colony

In this image of tube sponges, you can clearly see the central cavity that the sponges use to expel wastewater after filtering and feeding on plankton. This yellow species of tube sponge is common in the waters of the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean. These sponges were found near St. Lucia in the Caribbean Sea. This image was captured by Dr. Anthony R. Picciolo from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).