Hobbies And Interests
Hawksbill Turtles
The Hawksbill or Carey turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is named for its beak-like mouth. These turtles can have a carapace (shell) that is up to 35 inches long; their shells are purple to black with other colors interspersed. Hawksbill turtles can weigh up to 135 pounds; their diet consists primarily of sponges and other invertebrates that live in coral reefs. These turtles live in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
Loggerhead Turtles
The large head of the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) gives the turtle its name. Loggerhead turtles can weigh up to 440 pounds and have shells that are up to 47 inches long. They mostly eat oysters and crabs, but also feed on invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish and sea urchins. Loggerhead turtles can be found in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Fish
Angelfish, such as the queen angelfish and the blue angelfish, feed on sea sponges. They live in the subtropics in the reefs around islands and is limited to tropical waters in the western Atlantic Ocean. Populations of queen angelfish are highest in the Caribbean. Angelfish tend to stick to the bottom of the coral reef and are typically found by themselves or in pairs. They feed on invertebrates, including jellyfish, coral and plankton, but mainly eat sponges. A few other species of fish, such as the filefish, also feed on sponges.
Sea Stars
Some types of sea stars, such as the blood star, feed on sponges. The blood star is a star-shaped creature that has a disc-like body with four to six arms. They live on rocks and in caves or pools near tidal zones. While the blood star typically feeds on bacteria and other small organisms that it sweeps into its mouth, it can also feed on sponges and bryozoa by applying its stomach to their surface.