Giant barrel sponge
A giant barrel sponge is a large, hollow marine animal that filters food particles from seawater through its porous body.
Also known as: great barrel sponge, Xestospongia muta
How big is it?
1.2 m · defined colony height
Also 3.937 ft
Defined colony height · defined specimen
Typical recorded range: 50 cm to 1.8 m.
A little perspective
Giant barrel sponge vs Curling broom: length comparison
The overall length of a curling broom is about 1.02 times the colony height of a giant barrel sponge.
A giant barrel sponge is a large, hollow marine animal that filters food particles from seawater through its porous body.
A curling broom is a tool used in curling to sweep the ice and influence the movement of the curling stone.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions. Horizontal rulers compare the selected spans; vertical brackets also identify height on the artwork.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Giant barrel sponge
Defined colony height: 1.2 m; defined specimen; range 50 cm–1.8 m.
A defined 1.2 m high giant barrel sponge (Xestospongia muta) with an 80 kg wet mass. Colonies grow in irregular barrel forms; height excludes the reef substrate and the central cavity is open.
The marked defined colony height is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Curling broom
Defined overall length: 1.22 m; defined specimen; range 1.15 m–1.3 m.
A defined competition-style curling broom 1.22 m long and weighing 450 g. Handle length and head construction vary; the World Curling rules chiefly govern the sweeping-head fabric.
World Curling — Rules and regulations
The marked defined overall length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Use the visual comparison to explore its scale, then check the measurements and sources.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 1.2 m
We compare the colony height of a giant barrel sponge. This is an illustrative comparison value, not a claim that every example is the same. The recorded range is 50 cm to 1.8 m.
A defined 1.2 m high giant barrel sponge (Xestospongia muta) with an 80 kg wet mass. Colonies grow in irregular barrel forms; height excludes the reef substrate and the central cavity is open.
The marked vertical span follows the measured feature, not the edges of the image. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 m | 50 cm to 1.8 m | defined specimen | |
| 80 kg | 30 kg to 180 kg | defined specimen |
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Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- Smithsonian Ocean — SpongesSponge anatomy and colony growth; the atlas uses a defined adult giant-barrel specimen.
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