Can live for 11 thousand years: scientists reveal details about strange Antarctic animals (video)
At first glance, sponges may seem more like plants than animals, because they are immobile and attached to the ocean floor. However, sponges belong to the animal kingdom and are remarkable for their longevity.
One of the most prominent representatives is Monorhaphis chuni, which lives in the depths of the ocean and can exist for thousands of years. Scientists estimate that one of these sponges found in Antarctica is more than 11 thousand years old, IFLScience writes.
The Monorhaphis chuni sponge spends its life attached to the ocean floor with a long spicule, a skeletal formation that acts as a support. Its body wraps around the spicule, forming a cylinder resembling a corn dog. It is this unique structure that allows the sponge to remain motionless throughout its life.
Scientists discovered the incredible age of Monorhaphis chuni in 2012 by studying the isotopic composition and structure of its skeleton. The sponge, more than two meters long, grew at a depth of about 1100 meters in the East China Sea. Its age was determined by layered rings of silica, similar to counting the annual rings of trees.
Studying the structure of the sponge allowed scientists not only to determine its age but also to learn more about the climatic conditions a millennium ago. The study revealed four periods of irregular growth, indicating an increase in water temperature. In particular, the scientists found that these jumps were caused by underwater volcanic eruptions.
The Monorhaphis chuni sponge has become a real archive for studying changes in ocean water temperature. An analysis of its growth showed that in certain periods the water temperature rose sharply from less than 2°C to 6-10°C. This information helps scientists to better understand how the climate has changed at the ocean's depths over the past millennia.
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