Gold star coral (Astroides calycularis)

Sponges and coral of Malta

I have broken up the invertebrate life into things (mostly) with eyes, and things without. Behold, the things without eyes…

Sponges

Red sponge (Crambe crambe)
Red sponge (Crambe crambe)

The Mediterranean has a history of sponge diving that goes back to antiquity, and we saw quite a variety of sponges, but not vast numbers of them. The Mediterranean bath sponge is the primary target of sponge divers, and comes in a variety of exterior hues. It’s apparently creamy yellow to beige inside.

Bathing sponge (Spongia officinalis) traditionally harvested by Mediterranean sponge divers
Bathing sponge (Spongia officinalis) traditionally harvested by Mediterranean sponge divers
Spongia lamella, the elephant ear sponge
Spongia lamella, the elephant ear sponge
Scalarispongia scalaris
Scalarispongia scalaris
Unknown (to me) but pretty sponge
Unknown (to me) but pretty sponge
Could be the elephant ear sponge... Probably isn't!
Could be the elephant ear sponge... Probably isn't!

Coral

Gold star coral (Astroides calycularis)
Gold star coral (Astroides calycularis)

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Clare

Lapsed mathematician, creator of order, formulator of hypotheses. Lover of the ocean, being outdoors, the bush, reading, photography, travelling (especially in Africa) and road trips.

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