Strange Spherical Carnivorous Sponge With Hooked 'Teeth' Found on Antarctic Seafloor

Researchers mapping newly exposed seabed in Antarctica have photographed an extraordinary carnivorous sponge: a near-perfect spherical animal studded with hooked protrusions that look like tiny teeth. The find came during an early-year expedition led by the Nippon Foundation's Nekton Ocean Census in partnership with the Schmidt Ocean Institute aboard the research vessel Falkor after the George VI ice shelf calved.

What the Team Found

Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) deployed from Falkor surveyed the seafloor and collected imagery and specimens. Along with the hook-covered sponge, the ROVs recorded several remarkable finds: a juvenile colossal squid not previously observed alive, bone-eating 'zombie worms' (Osedax-like organisms), and new species of snails and clams associated with hydrothermal-vent environments.

About the Sponge

The sponge belongs to the deep-sea family Cladorhizidae, a group known for predatory behavior rather than conventional filter feeding. These sponges use external hooked structures to seize passing small animals, then draw them in to be digested. The spherical shape and hooked protrusions are adaptive traits common among Cladorhizidae that inhabit dark, food-poor regions of the deep seafloor where filter feeding yields insufficient energy.

Onboard Analysis Speeds Results

To accelerate identification and processing, marine taxonomists and imaging specialists worked on board Falkor so images and specimens could be examined immediately rather than being shipped to distant laboratories. That on-board workflow simplifies logistics and gets findings to scientists and the public far sooner.

Despite those advantages, the team reports they have processed roughly 30% of their collected samples so far. With the majority of material still awaiting analysis, additional unusual and important discoveries may yet emerge as work continues.

Why It Matters: Deep-sea discoveries like this expand our understanding of life in extreme environments and highlight how much remains unknown about Antarctic ecosystems now exposed by changing ice shelves.