415). The class is Demospongiae. The family is Petrosiidae. The domain is Eukarya. It is common at depths greater than 10 meters (33 ft) down to 120 meters (390 ft) and can reach a diameter of 1.8 meters (6 feet). The phylum is Porifera. Fun FAct. Xestospongia testudinaria is one of the sponge species that dominates coral reef sponge communities in this region. Barrel shaped, with thick walls. The species is Muta. The role of the so-called ‘giant barrel sponge’ for the reef ecosystem has been studied repeatedly, as have its various bioactive compounds. The giant barrel sponge (Xestospongia muta) is the largest species of sponge found growing on Caribbean coral reefs. Giant Barrel Sponges, like all sponges, are attached to the reef surface and are unable to move. Xestospongia muta, also called giant barrel sponges, are among the largest species of sponges, growing up to six feet in diameter. Brittle and crumbly in consistency. To date, however, no study has attempted to determine the usefulness of the I3-M11 partition as a genetic marker to assess the population genetic structure of sponges. Surface with protuberances with round or blade-like outlines. The giant barrel sponge, though living as a solitary sponge … The giant barrel sponge, Xestospongia muta (Demo- Purple to red brown externally, tan internally. 5 -end partition at the species level and, therefore, seemed to be more suitable for taxonomic studies and DNA bar-cod-ing. POPULATION ECOLOGY. Oscules on the inner side of vase; 0.2 - 0.3 cm (Ref. This group of sponges are known to reach massive sizes and ages of 2000 years or more in warm Caribbean seas (Van Soest, 2012) . Some Giaint Barrel Sponges in the Caribbean may be over 2,300 years old, making them some of the most long-lived animals on Earth. However, the genetic variation of this iconic sponge in the region remains unknown. Classification of Sponges: The classification of Porifera is based chiefly on types of skeleton found in them. Xestospongia muta, commonly known as the giant barrel sponge, a member of the Xestospongia genus, is one of the largest species of sponge found in the Caribbean.It grows at depths from 10 meters down to 120 metres (390 ft), and can reach a diameter of 1.8 metres (6 feet). It is brown-grey to reddish in colour, with a hard or stony texture. The order is Haplosclerida. The giant barrel sponge is considered to be on the second trophic level, meaning that it is a primary consumer since it consumes photosynthetic cyanobacteria, which are primary producers (McMurray et al., 2008). Giant barrel sponges, such as Xestospongia muta, are referred to by some as "Redwoods of the Reef." This phylum has been classified variously but the classification suggested by Hyman (1940) and Burton (1967) are of considerable importance. Like most sponges, this species has a glass-like skeleton. 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