Darwinella gardineeri. Underwater Photography of the sponge Darwinella gardineeri. Underwater Photos by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Family: Darwinellidae. Habitat: Subtidal, steep rock walls or deep reefs to more than 30m. Distribution: Endemic; Common northern offshore Islands. Size: Up to 30cm.

Darwinella oxeata. Underwater Photography of the sponge Darwinella oxeata. Underwater Photos by New Zealand, South Pacific Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Family: Darwinellidae. Habitat: Large Boulders, open rock reefs and rock walls to more than 30m. Distribution: Endemic; Offshore Islands. Size: Up to 20cm.

Dendrilla rosea. Underwater Photography of the sponge Dendrilla rosea. Underwater Photos by New Zealand South Pacific Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Family: Darwinellidae. Habitat: Large Boulders, open rock reefs and rock walls to more than 30m. Distribution: Endemic; East and west of the North Island. Size: Up to 30cm.

Callyspongia latituba (Organ-pipe sponge) Underwater Photography of the Organ-pipe sponge (Callyspongia latituba). Underwater Photos by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Phylum: Porifera. Class: Demospongiae. Order: Haplosclerida. Suborder: Haplosclerina. Family: Callyspongiidae. Distribution: Endemic; Throughout New Zealand and most of shore Islands. From 3m (Fiordland). to more than 30m. Size: Up to 60cm tall.

Callyspongia ramosa (Finger Sponge). Underwater Photography of the finger sponge Callyspongia ramosa. Underwater Photos by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Family: Callyspongiidae. Habitat: Lower intertidal to 50m. Distribution: Endemic; Common throughout New Zealand.

Petrosia hebes Underwater Photography of the sponge Petrosia hebes. Underwater Photos by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Phylum: Porifera. Class: Demospongiae. Order: Haplosclerida. Suborder: Petrosina. Family: Petrosiidae. Abundance: Uncommon 5-50m. Distribution: Three kings Islands, Cape Karikari, Poor Knights Islands and Mayor Island.

Calyx imperialis (Organ-pipe sponge). Underwater Photography of the Organ-pipe sponge (Calyx imperialis). Underwater Photos by New Zealand South Pacific Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Phylum: Porifera. Class: Demospongiae. Order: Haplosclerida. Suborder: Petrosina. Family: Phloeodictyidae . Habitat: Deep reef slopes and cliff walls on offshore Islands. Abundance: Rare. From 30m. Distribution: Endemic; Recorded at the Three Kings and the Poor Knights.

Underwater Photography of the bright orange encrusting sponge Desmacella dendyi that is commensal with choristid sponges. Underwater Photos by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Phylum: Porifera. Class: Demospongiae. Order: Poecilosclerida. Suborder: Mycalina. Family: Desmacellidae. Distribution: Endemic; New Zealand coast and offshore islands including the Chatham Rise. Size: Covers entire sponges. 1-3mm thick.

Iophon laevistylus (Organ-pipe sponge). Underwater Photography of the Organ-pipe sponge (Iophon laevistylis). Underwater Photos by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Phylum: Porifera. Class: Demospongiae. Order: Poecilosclerida. Suborder: Microcionina. Family: Acarnidae. Habitat: Steeply sloping reef. Abundance: Rare. 10m to more than 30m. Distribution: Endemic;

Iophon proximum Underwater Photography of Iophon proximum by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Phylum: Porifera. Class: Demospongiae. Order: Poecilosclerida. Suborder: Microcionina. Family: Acarnidae. Habitat: Steeply sloping reef. Abundance: Common. 15m to more than 30m. Distribution: Around New Zealand.

Latrunculia procumbens Underwater Photography of the endemic sponge Latrunculia procumbens Underwater Photos by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Phylum: Porifera. Class: Demospongiae. Order: Poecilosclerida. Suborder: Latrunculina. Family: Latrunculiidae. Habitat: Vertical rock walls in surge areas. Distribution: Endemic, Tutukaka and the Poorknights.

Cymbastela tricalycuiformis Underwater Photography of the endemic sponge Cymbastela tricalycuiformis Underwater Photos by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Phylum: Porifera. Class: Demospongiae. Order: Halichondrida . . Family: Axinellidae Habitat: Deep Steep reefs 10-50m. Distribution: Endemic, South Island to the subantarctic Campbell Island.

Raspailia topsenti Underwater Photography of the finger sponge Raspailia topsenti. Underwater Photos by New Zealand, South Pacific Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Family: Raspailiidae. Distribution: Endemic. Size: Up to 30cm High with fingers up to 15 mm.

Cliona celata. Underwater Photography of the yellow encrusting sponge Cliona celata. Underwater Photos by New Zealand, South Pacific Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Family: Clionaidae.

Underwater Photography of the sponge Tethya fastigata. Underwater Photos by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Family: Tethyidae. Habitat: Solitary. Most abundant in caves, archways. Distribution: Endemic. Cape Brett and Off Shore Islands from Cavalli Islands to the Aldeman Islands. Size: Up to 5cm.

Aciculites pulchra. Underwater Photography of the white sponge Aciculites pulchra. Underwater Photos by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Phylum: Porifera. Class: Demospongiae. Order: Lithistida. Family: Scleritodermidae. Habitat: Inside caves or under overhangs. Distribution: Endemic; Three Kings Islands, Northeast North Island and Mahia.

Ancorina alata (Black Pillow Sponge). Underwater Photography Black Pillow Sponge (Ancorina alata). Underwater Photos by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Phylum: Porifera. Class: Demospongiae. Order: Astrophorida. Family: Ancorinidae. Habitat: Intertidal to 50m. Distribution: Endemic; Around New Zealand. Three Kings and the Subantarctic Islands.

Stelletta crater. Underwater Photography of Stelletta crater (Sponge) covered by the bright orange encrusting sponge Desmacella dendyi. Underwater Photos by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Phylum: Porifera. Class: Demospongiae. Order: Astrophorida. Family: Ancorinidae. Habitat: Exposed Reefs and inside caves. Distribution: Endemic; New Zealand and its offshore Islands.

Clathrina sp. Underwater Photography of Clathrina sp. (Sponge). Underwater Photos by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Phylum: Porifera. Class: Calcarea. Order: Clathrinida. Family: Clathrinidae. Abundance: Rare.

Leucettusa lancifer (White flask sponge). Underwater Photography of the sponge Leucosolenia asconoides. Underwater Photos by New Zealand South Pacific Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Phylum: Porifera. Class: Calcarea. Subclass: Calcinea. Order: Clathrinida. Family: Clathrinida. Habitat: Deep Reefs. Abundance: Common. Distribution: Endemic; Eastern North Island and offshore Islands; Fiordland.

Leucosolenia asconoides. Underwater Photography of the sponge Leucosolenia asconoides. Underwater Photos by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Phylum: Porifera. Class: Calcarea. Subclass: Calcaronea. Order: Leucosolenida.Family: Leucosoleniidae. Habitat: Reefs and Walls 5 to 50m. Distribution: Eastern New Zealand and offshore islands.

Symplectella rowi (Glass sponge). Underwater Photography of the glass sponge Symplectella rowi . Underwater Photos by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Phylum: Porifera. Class: Hexactinellida. Order: Lyssacinosida.. Family: Euplectellidae .

Underwater Photography of the Phylum: Porifera. Underwater Photos by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson.