Here’s a quick reminder as to why the ocean is everyone’s favourite place to explore. Chondrocladia lyra or harp sponge live at the depth of 10,879 feet to 11,152 feet. Some interesting facts about this beautiful sponge include their ability of grounding and fixing themselves in a single place using a root like structure, the globules found at the top of their branches that are filled with spermatophores used in reproduction and of course the fact that these harmless looking beautiful sponges are actually carnivorous!
The harp sponge captures their prey, such as copepods and other crustaceans, with the velcro-like hooks on their external body surfaces. Once the hooks have ensnared the sponge’s prey, it secretes a digestive membrane that surrounds and engulfs the captured prey, breaking it down until the sponge can absorb it through its pores. Terrifying and beautiful at the same time.
The harp sponge was only discovered in 2012 and seeing as how we’ve only been able to explore less than 5% of the ocean imagine what other hidden treasures live under the sea.