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Species of Freshwater Sponges and Their Distribution Within The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Published by National Park Service | Department of the Interior | Catalog Last Checked: January 07, 2026 at 11:09 AM | Dataset Last Updated: January 01, 2015 at 12:00 AM
Two species of sponge were detected in the park in the Abrams Creek embayment: Trochospongilla horrida and Radiospongilla crateriformes. These are both widely distributed and common sponges in Tennessee. Sites on the Middle Prong Little River, Little Pigeon River, Oconaluftee River, and a separate site on Abrams Creek did not produce sponges. It is conjectured that other streams lack sufficient food or nutrients for sponges or they have difficulties dispersing into the mountain streams.

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