The All-New Book of Amazing Facts, Volume 1

10 For thousands of years, people have been utilizing freshwater and saltwater sponges in countless ways. For instance, early Europeans used sponges for water filtration, painting, and even helmet padding. However, by the mid-twentieth century, over- harvesting nearly brought soft sponges to extinction. But the invention of synthetic sponges helped turn the tide. There are more than 7,000 known species of sponges. While they may look like an underwater plant, they are indeed animals. True, they don’t have nervous, digestive, or circulatory systems; instead, they depend on constant waterflow through their bodies to obtain food and remove waste. The largest-known species is the giant barrel sponge, which can reach eight feet in height. Sponges are also some of the longest-living creatures. While turtles and fish do feed on them, if left untouched, sponges can live for centuries. Scientists dated a large sponge found in the Antarctic Ocean to AD 461—that’s over 1,550 years old. But one of the larger varieties has been estimated to have lived more than 2,400 years, dating back to before the time of Christ! And did you know that a sponge played a part during the crucifixion of Jesus? “Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst!’ Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:28–30). Sponges Ancient History Animals & Biology