Description

Also known as Ball Sponge, Demosponge, Golden Ball Sponge, Golf Ball Sponge, Marine Sponge, Orange Puffball Sponge.

Found singly or in colonies, on drop-offs, under ledges, along slopes, and in tide-pools, of coral and rocky reefs. Varies in colour from shades of yellow to orange.
They feed on plankton.
Length - 10cm
Depth - 5-130m
Widespread Northeast Atlantic, Indo-West Pacific.

Sponges come in a range of sizes from minuscule encrusting species under rocks to massive sponges which can be up to one and half metres high.
They are able to filter many litres of sea water every few seconds.
Sponges can exude highly toxic chemicals and so have very few predators apart from nudibranchs, sea stars, sea urchins and umbrella shell.
Their colour can vary if growing in the light or when growing in the shade. (edit) Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tethya_aurantium