Sponge Collection (page 8)

Small peppermint shrimp inside of tube sponge in Caribbean

Coral reef and sponges, Belize

Yellow tube sponges and a large group of whip coral adorn the deep reef of Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Bright sponges, soft corals and crinoids in a colorful Komodo seascape, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Striped blenny on a pink sponge, Papua New Guinea
Striped blenny on a pink sponge, Volcano Crater, Witu Islands, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Colorful reef scene with coral and fish, Komodo, Indonesia
Colorful reef scene with pink sponge, yellow black coral bush and yellow and blue striped sweeltip fish, Komodo, Indonesia

Giant barrel sponge and sea whip in front of the Liberty Wreck, Bali
Giant barrel sponge and sea whip in front of the Liberty Wreck with diver in background, Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia

Brown and white discodoris nudibranch, Bali, Indonesia
Brown and white discodoris nudibranch next to orange sponge, Bali, Indonesia

A scorpionfish lays on a coral reef near the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. This beautiful, tropical region is home to an incredible variety of marine life

A Black Margate swimming off the coast of Key Largo, Florida
A Black Margate (Anisotremus surinamensis) swims over a reef of fire corals, sponges and sea fans in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Key Largo, Florida

Goby on a sponge, Fiji

Brittle Starfish on an orange sponge, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Isopod feeding on a Creolefish, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Scuba diver propels above a large vase sponge, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

A diver looks on at a tassled scorpionfish lying in a barrel sponge
A diver looks on at a tassled scorpionfish (Scorpaenopis oxycephala) lying in a barrel sponge, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Phyllodesmium poindimiei nudibranch on red sponge, Indonesia

Crinoids adorn large sponges under Siladen Jetty, Indonesia
Crinoids adorn large sponges under Siladen Jetty, Bunaken National Park, Indonesia

Hermit Crab on a large elephant ear sponge, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Diver swims above a large sponge in Horseshoe Bay, Indonesia
Diver looks on at sponges, coral and crinoids in a colorful Komodo seascape, taken at Cannibal Rock, Horseshoe Bay, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Harlequin shrimp with bright red sponge in the background, Bali
Harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera elegans), with bright red sponge in the background, Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia

Fish swarm over a shipwreck that is covered in elephant ear sponge
Fish including bluefin trevally (Caranx melampygus), swarm over a shipwreck that is covered in elephant ear sponge, Solomon Islands

Scuba Diver swims underwater amongst large pipe sponges
Scuba diver swimming underwater amongst large pipe sponges, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Diver looks on at sponges, soft corals and crinoids in a colorful Komodo seascape, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

A large barrel sponge grows on a reef dropoff near Sulawesi, Indonesia
A large barrel sponge grows on a reef dropoff in Bunaken Marine Park, near the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. This beautiful, tropical region is home to an incredible variety of marine life

Trumpetfish, Belize

Barrel sponge on Liberty Wreck, Bali, Indonesia

Big orange elephant ear sponge under the Salt Pier, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Colorful crinoids and sponges grow on a vibrant reef in Indonesia
Colorful crinoids and sponges grow on a vibrant reef in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This beautiful area harbors extraordinary marine biodiversity and is a popular destination for divers

A barrel sponge attached to a reef wall, Papua New Guinea
A barrel sponge (Xestosongia testudinaria) attached to a reef wall on South Emma reef, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

White and red clown frogfish yawning, Bali, Indonesia

Schoolmasters, Belize

Scribbled Pipefish on a pink sponge, Papua New Guinea

Reef sponge coral and yellow fish, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Reef sponge coral and yellow fish, Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Green coral with red fish and pink sponge, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Green coral with red fish and pink sponge, Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Tube sponges on the Wreck of the Willaurie, Nassau, The Bahamas

Feather stars with a boat in the background, Papua New Guinea
Feather stars (Crinoid sp.) with a boat in the background, Susans reef, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Diver approaching giant barrel sponge on a reef, Raja Ampat
Diver approaching giant barrel sponge (Xestospongia muta) on a reef in Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Colorful reefs covered in orange Dendronephthya soft corals
Colorful reefs in Raja Ampat covered in orange Dendronephthya soft corals, West Papua, Indonesia

An injured Hawksbill Turtle in Caribbean Sea, Mexico

A scuba diver explores a reef with a large barrel sponge, Indonesia
A scuba diver explores a reef in Komodo National Park where large barrel sponges grow. This tropical region in Indonesia is known for its spectacular coral reefs and high marine biodiversity

Pair of Tiger shrimp over orange sponge
Pair of Tiger shrimp (Palaemon pacificus) over orange sponge, Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

A pair of trumpetfish off the coast of Key Largo, Florida
A pair of adult and juvenile Trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis) swim together over the coral reef in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Key Largo; Florida

Salt Pier seen perched on top of reef, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Cowrie Shell on a sponge, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands
Cowrie shell on a sponge, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Diver looks on at a colorful Komodo seascape, Indonesia
Diver looks on at sponges, pink soft corals and crinoids in a colorful Komodo seascape, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Hairy squat lobster on pink sponge, Solomon Islands
Hairy squat lobster (Lauriea siagiani) on pink sponge, Solomon Islands

A massive barrel sponge grows n the Solomon Islands
A massive barrel sponge grows on a steep dropoff in the Solomon Islands. This Melanesian region is known for its spectacular marine biodiversity

A Hamlet uses a large elephant ear sponge as place to hide, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

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"Sponge: A Versatile Wonder of Nature and Artistic Inspiration" Sponges, the unsung heroes of both nature and art, have captivated human imagination for centuries. From their humble beginnings as simple organisms to their diverse applications in everyday life, sponges continue to amaze us with their unique qualities. In the world of art, sponges have made appearances in some iconic works throughout history. Take "The Crucifixion of Christ" painted in 1565; notice how the artist skillfully used a sponge to create texture and depth on the canvas. Similarly, in "Ending in Smoke" by Heath Robinson, a whimsical illustration showcases a comical scene where smoke billows out from an oversized sponge. Venturing into nature's realm, we find ourselves submerged beneath turquoise waters off Northern Bahamas' Caribbean coast. Here lies a vibrant underwater paradise teeming with fish and coral that rely on sponges for shelter and sustenance. Muriel Dawson's masterpiece "Water Baby" beautifully captures this symbiotic relationship between marine life and these remarkable creatures. Delving further back in time reveals fossils that tell tales of ancient ecosystems. Trilobite, sponge, and zoophyte fossils offer glimpses into prehistoric worlds long gone but not forgotten. These remnants serve as reminders of our planet's rich history. Switching gears to more lighthearted scenes depicted by Muriel Dawson's "Two Babies, " we witness innocence personified through two cherubic faces playing joyfully with bath sponges—a testament to how something so simple can bring immense delight even to the youngest among us. But let us not forget the unexpected encounters involving sponges. Picture a horse-mounted huntsman crashing through a shop window or a Fingerprint Flamingo Tongue crawling over colorful sponge colonies off Little Tobago island—these peculiar moments remind us that life is full of surprises. Beyond artistic depictions, sponges have also found their place in practical activities.