While exploring Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, NOAA’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system Deep Discoverer and Seirios discovered the largest sponge in the world. The sponge was identified as belonging to the hexactinellid family Rossellidae and subfamily Lanuginellinae and scientists determined to be over 3.5 m in length, 2.0 m in width and 1.5 m in width, thus exceeding the dimensions of the largest sponge previously known.

Credit:
The largest sponge in the world?
Daniel Wagner, Christopher D. Kelley
Marine Biodiversity, 10.1007/s12526-016-0508-z
Video courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2015 Hohonu Moana

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