Archive · 14 Sep 2026
SpongeBob and Patrick Lookalikes Reveal a Predator-Prey Reality
Scientists found two deep-sea animals that look like SpongeBob and Patrick.
One was a bright yellow glass sponge.
The other was a pink sea star.
They were seen next to each other far below the Atlantic Ocean.
The video was recorded in 2021 by NOAA Ocean Exploration.
The sponge is from the Hertwigia genus, and the sea star is from the Chondraster genus.
In the cartoon, SpongeBob and Patrick are friends.
In real life, the sea star may have been treating the sponge as food.
NOAA Ocean Exploration footage from 2021 shows a yellow glass sponge beside a pink sea star.
The animals were recorded on Retriever Seamount in the Atlantic Ocean at 6,200 feet deep.
The sponge belongs to the genus Hertwigia, while the sea star belongs to Chondraster.
Marine biologist Christopher Mah compared the pair to SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick.
Unlike the cartoon characters, the sea star may have been preparing to eat the sponge.
- Who
- NOAA Ocean Exploration, marine biologist Christopher Mah, a Hertwigia glass sponge, and a Chondraster sea star.
- What
- A remotely operated vehicle recorded a yellow sponge and pink sea star resembling SpongeBob and Patrick.
- When
- The footage was captured in 2021.
- Where
- Retriever Seamount in the Atlantic Ocean, about 6,200 feet underwater.
- Why
- The animals were documented during a live seafloor scan; the sea star may have been near the sponge because Chondraster species feed on sponges.
- Footage source
- NOAA Ocean Exploration
- Recording year
- 2021
- Location
- Retriever Seamount, Atlantic Ocean
- Depth
- 6,200 feet
- Sponge genus
- Hertwigia
- Sea star genus
- Chondraster
- Key distinction
- The sea star may have been a predator feeding on the sponge