Fauna
Invertebrate

Elephant Ear Sponge

Agelas clathrodes

Also known as Orange Elephant Ear Sponge

Elephant ear sponges form massive, vivid orange-to-reddish flaps and undulating fans that cling securely to steep drop-offs and coral reef walls. They continuously pump thousands of liters of seawater through an intricate canal system to filter out tiny microbes and organic particles. Because their dense tissues are fortified with distinctive spicules and potent chemical deterrents, few reef creatures can graze on them, allowing mature individuals to persist for decades.

MarineFilter FeederReef Dweller
Elephant Ear Sponge reference
"elefantenohrschwamm, elefantenohr-schwamm, orange elephant ear sponge, orange wall sponge" by Jay Brasher is licensed under CC BY 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyMarine Bacteria, Planktonic Microalgae, Organic Detritus
Predators
  • Hawksbill Sea Turtle
  • French Angelfish
  • Rock Beauty
ThreatsOcean warming, sedimentation, physical damage from boat anchors, and marine pollution
HabitatsCoral reef walls, fore-reef slopes, and deep drop-offs
Life spanDecades to potentially over a century
Classification
  1. FamilyAgelasidae
  2. SpeciesAgelas clathrodes
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Maintain Buoyancy: Secure your fins and gear to avoid snapping the brittle, slow-growing fan margins.
  • Do Not Touch: Handling can crush the delicate water-pumping pores and may cause mild skin irritation from internal spicules.
Related species
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