Lanta Marine Life: Massive Sponges (Petrosiidae) with Dive & Relax

Sponges of the Petrosiidae family are often huge, vase-shaped or volcano-shaped sponges, sometimes encrusting, bulbous, and less commonly branching growth forms. Around Koh Lanta, the most obvious family member is the Giant Barrel Sponge, which is found on all of our coral reefs.

The texture of these sponges is usually stony and brittle due to most species having more spicules (very small sharp-pointed spines) than spongin, which is the fibrous substance found in the skeleton of many sponges.

The outer layer of Petrosiidae sponges are covered in these small sharp pointed spines, which form a pattern of interlacing lines resembling a net. This covering creates a crust which gives the surface of the sponge a smooth appearance.

1 species found on this page.

Giant Barrel Sponge (Xestospongia muta)

Giant Barrel Sponge

Xestospongia muta

Giant Barrel Sponge @ Koh Haa

The Giant Barrel Sponge can grow well over 1 m in diameter and is typically brownish-red to brownish-grey in shallow water, becoming more pinkish with depth. This species has a hard, stony texture and can grow for hundreds, even thousands of years.

This species has a varied form, often a very large barrel-like shape, slightly cone-shaped at the top. Shapes of individual sponges within colonies can vary widely from short to tall, thin to wide, with the surface being smooth, rough or rugged.

The Giant Barrel Sponge lives symbiotically with cyanobacterial, bacteria that obtain their energy through photosynthesis, which gives colour to the sponge. This is a similar relationship to that of coral polyps living with symbiotic algae.

The Giant Barrel Sponge undergoes sporadic bleaching events which do not cause sponge death, and from which the sponge recovers. This is part of the normal life cycle of this sponge and demonstrates that the sponge does not depend on the symbiotic bacteria to exist. Bleaching events occur more often with depth, and the reason for these events is not yet fully understood.

Diving with Massive Sponges

Spot Massive Sponges on one of our daily Koh Lanta diving trips. Or if you prefer to keep your adventure on the surface, you can also book one of our Koh Lanta snorkeling trips.

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Find Out More

Allen, G., Steene, R., Humann, P., DeLoach, N. (2003) Reef Fish Identification, Tropical Pacific. Jacksonville, FL., USA: New World Publications, Inc., ISBN 1-878348-36-1.
Humann, P., DeLoach, N., (2010) Reef Creature Identification, Tropical Pacific. Jacksonville, FL., USA: New World Publications Inc., ISBN 978-1-878348-44-9
Debelius, H. (2013) Indian Ocean Reef Guide. Frankfurt, Germany: IKAN - Unterwasserarchiv, ISBN 978-3-939767-52-7.
Debelius, H. (2004) Nudibranchs and Sea Snails, Indo-Pacific Field Guide. Frankfurt, Germany: IKAN - Unterwasserarchiv, ISBN 3-925919-51-1
Erhardt, H., Knop, D. (2015) Corals Indo-Pacific Field Guide. Frankfurt, Germany: IKAN - Unterwasserarchiv, ISBN 3-925919-69-4.
Veron J.E.N., Stafford-Smith M.G., Turak E. and DeVantier L.M. (2016). Corals of the World

More Marine Life References and Further Information

Massive Sponges

(Petrosiidae)

Giant Barrel Sponge

Diving with Massive Sponges

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