# Barrel sponge (*Xestospongia testudinaria*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/barrel-sponge  
Data as of: 2026-11-14

The barrel sponge (Xestospongia testudinaria) is a sponge in the family Petrosiidae, order Haplosclerida and class Demospongiae. It belongs to the phylum Porifera in the kingdom Animalia, and its scientific name carries the authority (Lamarck, 1815). Other English names for it are Large barrel sponge, Turtleshell bath sponge and Indo-Pacific giant barrel sponge. The Catalogue of Life lists it as a living, not extinct, species.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Height | 10 cm – 20 cm |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | Not recorded |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Not recorded |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Porifera
- class: Demospongiae
- order: Haplosclerida
- family: Petrosiidae
- genus: Xestospongia
- species: *Xestospongia testudinaria* (Lamarck, 1815)

Synonyms: *Alcyonium testudinarium*, *Petrosia testudinaria*, *Petrosia testudinaria var. fistulophora*, *Reniera crateriformis*, *Reniera testudinaria*, *Xestospongia testudinaria var. fistulophora*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the barrel sponge?

The barrel sponge is a sponge, an invertebrate animal in the phylum Porifera and class Demospongiae.

### What is the scientific name of the barrel sponge?

Its scientific name is Xestospongia testudinaria, in the genus Xestospongia.

### Who named Xestospongia testudinaria and when?

It was named by Lamarck in 1815, written as (Lamarck, 1815).

### What family does the barrel sponge belong to?

It belongs to the family Petrosiidae, in the order Haplosclerida.

### What other names does the barrel sponge have?

It is also called Large barrel sponge, Turtleshell bath sponge and Indo-Pacific giant barrel sponge.

### Is the barrel sponge extinct?

No, the Catalogue of Life lists it as living, not extinct.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Barrel sponge (Xestospongia testudinaria). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/barrel-sponge