The hitherto unknown predators were discovered from Australia

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The ocean always surprises scientists. Thus, researchers from Queensland described three unknown carnivorous sponges found in 2017 in the Gulf of Great Australia.

Queensland Museum researchers discover three previously unknown carnivores in Australia’s Great Bite Scientific media exchange.

Named Nullarbora heptoxia, Abyssocladia oxysters and Lycopodina hysterics, these creatures live at depths of more than three kilometers and are the first carnivorous sponges recorded in South Australia, according to a report published on the scientific site.

A special adaptation

These new species look like glass or caramel and are in the shape of a tree, said Dr. Merrick Eckins, Australia’s best expert. Sea sponges Meat diet. Unlike others that feed by filtering seawater to extract Organic particles Evicted by animals, plants and microorganisms, carnivorous sponges have adapted to their habitat by becoming predators that directly catch and digest prey such as small crustaceans.

These new species were collected in 2017 in an area intended for oil exploration, and they have been described by scientists at the Queensland State Museum. They bring the total number of sponge species known in Australia to 25.