Earlobe Sponge (9”-10”) troca The flat part of the

The flat part of the coral faces into a strong current where it can make use of the passing plankton and other prey

The horse conch is the Florida state shell

Blue Sea Fan (10”) on Mushroom Coral Base

the triton feeds slowly

Earlobe Sponge (9”-10”) troca The flat part of theCarnivorous sponges represent a novel innovation within phylum Porifera. These sponges lack or have a reduced aquiferous system, and instead feed by passively capturing prey items such as larvae or small crustaceans. Carnivorous sponges are typically erect, with stalked or branching bodies and a large number of thin filaments. Prey items become entangled in the filaments, and are subsequently gradually enveloped and digested by sponge cells migrating