The cup sponge Hyalonema sp. The cup sponge is a type of glass sponge with a stalk of long glass spicules supporting the "goblet" head. Glass sponges are some of the oldest colonial animals (metazoans) on Earth, arising after bacteria and single-celled organisms.

Image ID: expl1891, Voyage To Inner Space - Exploring the Seas With NOAA Collect
Location: Florida Straits
Photo Date: 2005 November 9
Credit: Brooke et al., NOAA-OER, HBOI.; Florida Coast Deep Corals Expedition 2005

Category: Ocean exploration/

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