Geodia barretti is a massive deep-sea sponge species found in the boreal waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is fairly common on the coasts of Norway and Sweden. It is a dominant species in boreal sponge grounds. Supported by morphology and molecular data, this species is classified in the family Geodiidae.
This sponge was named in honor of one of its discoverers, the biologist Lucas Barrett (1837-1862).
This sponge is called "rutabaga sponge" in Norwegian (kålrabisvamp) and "football sponge" in Swedish (fotbollssvampdjur).
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OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
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SedentarySedentary animals lead such a type of lifestyle in which little to or no physical activity is done. These are mostly marine bottom-dwelling animals...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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Massive sponge, often irregularly lobate, whitish to light yellow color. The inside is light brown. Surface is smooth. Oscules are grouped in more or less shallow depressions (= preoscules) while pores are spread over the whole body. There is a distinct cortex about 0.5 mm thick, it is made of ball-shaped spicules called sterrasters.
G. barretti is an oviparous species with separated males and females. The reproductive cycle is annual with one or two events of gamete release per year, the major reproductive season being from late spring to early autumn. The larvae has never been observed. Asexual reproduction has never been formally described.
The reproduction molecular toolkit of boreo-arctic Geodia species has been investigated, including in Geodia barretti, using proteomic and trancriptomic data. Genes involved in the formation of the gametes appeared close to the ones found in the rest of the animals.
