Coral reef sponges in Curacao in the southern Caribbean Sea are shown. This image relates to a paper that appeared in the 4 Oct., 2013, issue of Science, published by AAAS. The paper, by Jasper M.

Named for its ropy-looking long branches, Aplysina cauliformis, a coral reef sponge, provides a critical 3D habitat for marine organisms and helps to stabilize the foundation of coral reefs.

Researchers in Hawaii discovered four new species of sponge. Getty Images/iStockphoto Researchers in Hawaii used structures that mimic coral reefs to study aquatic life — and they found four new ...

Sea sponges are important sources of biological compounds, since they are unable to move autonomously, and have to protect themselves through chemical means. ‘#Seasponge surprise! #Girolline ...