Sponge Collection (page 9)

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

Hairy squat lobster amongst a pink and orange colored sponge, Bali
Hairy squat lobster (Lauriea siagiani) amongst a pink and orange colored sponge, Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia

Hawksbill Turtle feeding on sponge in Caribbean Sea, Mexico

A feather star with arms extended, Papua New Guinea
A feather star (Crinoid sp.) with arms extended, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Diver looks on at a bright red soft coral and sponge hanging from a cave
Diver looks on at a bright red soft coral Dendronephthya sp. and sponge hanging from the roof of a cave, Gorontalo, Sulawesi, Indonesia

The Orang-utan decorator crab sitting on coral, Solomons
The Orang-utan decorator crab sitting on coral, Russell Islands, Solomons

Orange and brown sponge, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Soft corals, sponges, and other invertebrates on a reef in Indonesia
Soft corals, sponges, and other invertebrates compete for space on a beautiful reef in Indonesia. This tropical region, within the Coral Triangle, is home to an incredible variety of marine life

Jorunna funebris nudibranch eggs, Papua New Guinea

Bristle Worms feeding on a large sponge, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

White and red octopus squeezing through sponges, Bali, Indonesia

Stoplight parrotfish, Key Largo, Florida
Stoplight parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) feeding off the coral reef in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Key Largo, Florida

A diversity of grunt fish under a colorful coral reef, Key Largo, Florida
A diversity of blue striped grunts (Haemulon sciurus), White Grunts (Haemulon plumieri), and Porkfish (Anisotremus virginicus)

A colony of feather stars attached to sponge, Papua New Guinea
A colony of multi-colored Crinoid feather stars (Crinoid sp) attached to a sponge, Vannessas reef, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Unidentified species of sponge with diver, Papua New Guinea
Unidentified species of sponge with diver, Restorf Island, Kimbe bay, Papua New Guinea

Detail of an encrusting sponge growing on a reef in Indonesia
Detail of an encrusting sponge growing on a reef in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This tropical region in Indonesia is known for its spectacular coral reefs and high marine biodiversity

Schools of Gray Snapper, Yellowtail Snapper and Bluestripe Grunt fish
Schools of Gray Snapper (Lutjanus griseus), Yellowtail Snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus), and Bluestripe Grunt (Haemulon sciurus) swim through and under the sea fans

Brittle Star on sponge, Belize

Longlure Frogfish, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Colony of crinoids, Papua New Guinea
Colony of crinoids, Fathers reef, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Whip sea fan with elephant ear sponge and diver, Papua New Guinea
Whip sea fan (Ctenocella sp.) with elephant ear sponge and diver, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Colorful sea wall with regal angelfish and barrel sponges
Colorful sea wall with regal angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) and grey and pink barrel sponges, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Orangutan Crab on bubble coral, Indonesia

Nudibranch on orange sponge, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea
Nudibranch or sea slug (Chromodoris coi) on orange sponge, Fathers reef, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Pair of black and white Joruna funebris nudibranch, Indonesia
Pair of black and white Joruna funebris sea slugs on red and blue sponges, Anambas, Indonesia

Green grouper with open mouth, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Green grouper with open mouth, Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

A Hawksbill Turtle swims along a caribbean reef with diver in background

Tube sponge on coral reef in Raja Ampat, Indonesia

A Butter Hamlet swims by a colorful reef in the Atlantic Ocean
A Butter Hamlet (Hypopleltrus unicolor), swims by a colorful reef of ferns, sponges, algae and coral in the shallow waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Key Largo, Florida

Barrel sponge and diver, Belize

Scuba diver swims by some large sponges off the coast of Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Scuba diver propels above a large barrel sponge, 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.