Researchers discover largest sponge known in the world

The biggest sponge in the world has been discovered in the deep sea off the north-western Hawaiian Islands. The enormous specimen measures 12ft by 7ft (over 3.5m by 2m) – about the same size as a minivan.

It is living 7,000 feet below the ocean surface, in the depths of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. As the researchers note in the video, the monument is home to the largest coral in the world, and now we know it just might also be home to the largest sponge in the world as well.

“The finding of such an enormous and presumably old sponge inside the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument underscores the need to protect this area using the highest conservation measures available,” writes the team.

“The largest portion of our planet lies in deep waters, the vast majority of which has never been explored,” said Papahānaumokuākea research specialist Daniel Wagner. “Finding such an enormous and presumably old sponge emphasizes how much can be learned from studying deep and pristine environments such as those found in the remote Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.”

Agencies/Canadajournal