Crumb of Bread Sponge

This sea sponge resembles a bread crumb and is a yellow green colour and likes to grow on rocks and docks on the west coast.

When the tide goes out you have a better chance of having a closer look.

They feed by sucking water through small openings. After it filters the water for food, it then pumps it back out of the larger openings. It is very delicate and will crumble into small pieces if you touch it.

It’s common name is ‘Crumb of Bread Sponge’ and the Latin name is Halichondria Bowerbanki. Here on the west coast this sea sponge grows to about 25cm wide and about 4cm thick.

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Giant Red Sea Cucumber

You can find a Giant Red Sea Cucumber in rocky shores near muddy areas. It is the largest of approximately 30 sea cucumber species on the west coast.

Really not much is known about Giant Red Sea Cucumbers, but they do hibernate in the winter months and their size changes with the seasons.

They are about 10cm in length. Their colour is a dark red to purple. I imagine they have a few predators but star fish like to eat them the most.

So look close and you hopefully can see some young ones.

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