Freshwater Sponges

I was delighted to find these bright green sponges on a warm September day recently. They covered segments of fallen branches and some rocks too, giving the appearance of bright green paint splotches.

They are non-moving invertebrates with a coarse texture (not slimy) that range throughout North America, Asia, and Europe. This first one has furry-looking tentacles.

This second one is more cohesive and feels so ... spongey! Their specialized cells filter the water for particles to feed on, providing a cleaning service and keeping our waters clean. Yay, sponges!