Largest Known Sponge in the World Discovered in PMNM

This sponge, about the size of a minivan, was discovered at a depth of 7,000 feet in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in 2015. Credit: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2015 Hohonu Moana

A sponge the size of a minivan was found last summer during a deep-sea expedition in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Scientists aboard NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer using remotely operated vehicles to explore some of the deepest areas of PMNM came across the sponge during a dive at a depth of 7,000 feet.

The massive sponge was captured on high-definition video and is close to 12 feet long and seven feet wide. It is the largest sponge known to date.

Massive sponge photographed at a depth of 7,000 feet inside PMNM by the remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer is largest known sponge in the world. Credit: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2015 Hohonu Moana

An article describing the find, titled “The largest sponge in the world?” and authored by PMNM Research Specialist Daniel Wagner and Chris Kelley from the University of Hawaiʻi, was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Marine Biodiversity on May 24, 2016. It can be accessed in its entirety at http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12526-016-0508-z.

Read the press release.

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