Although many people would assume this is a type of plant, sponges are actually a primitive form of animals. The Red beard sponges have intertwined fingerlike branches and are of red or orange-ish color. They are filter feeders that feed by drawing water through their pores into their chambers and cannot survive outside of the water. These sponges serve as homes to small fish and crabs.
#ocean #sponge #redbeardedsponge #delaware #sealife #marinebiology #oceanspecies #lewes #rehoboth #prolifera