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Carnivorous 'Death Ball' Sponge Discovered in Antarctic Depths
10 Nov
Summary
- Newly discovered predatory sponge found 11,800 feet deep off Antarctica
- Sponge has long appendages ending in pinkish orbs covered in hooks to trap prey
- Expedition led by Ocean Census aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel
In a remarkable discovery, scientists have uncovered a bizarre new species of sponge living in the deepest reaches of the ocean off the coast of Antarctica. This predatory sponge, officially part of the Chondrocladia genus, has been dubbed the 'carnivorous death ball' due to its unique and unsettling features.
Found at a depth of 11,800 feet, the sponge's spherical form is covered in tiny hooks designed to snare small crustaceans like copepods. This is a stark contrast to the gentle, filter-feeding behavior of most sponges. Instead, the 'death ball' slowly envelops and consumes its prey, squeezing out all their nutrients.
The discovery was made during an expedition this year led by the Ocean Census aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel R/V Falkor. Using a remotely operated underwater vehicle, the team surveyed the seafloor around the South Sandwich Trench, uncovering nearly 2,000 specimens across 14 animal groups, including 30 previously unknown deep-sea species.
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Among the other fascinating finds were iridescent 'Elvis worms' with bioluminescent scales, rare sea stars, and 'zombie worms' that feed on whale bones. Experts believe there are many more undiscovered species waiting to be found in the largely unexplored Southern Ocean.
