The water is discharged through larger holes. Sponges come in all size, shapes, and colors. The average growth is in diameter per year. In the U.S., sponges must be at least five inches when wet to be harvested. Green, yellow, orange, red and purple sponges are frequently found.
Most sponges are hermaphrodites, that is, they produce both male and female sex cells.
Sponges do not produce eggs until they are at least three years of age. Some sponges reproduce by budding, a process whereby a tip of a branch is constricted off by the sponge, or broken off during a storm. Sponges have few enemies. A few species of fish, seaslugs and hawks bill turtles eat sponges. Sponges provide habitat for wide variety of animals.