Boring Sponge vs Cluster Bat

Cliona celata compared with Myotis sodalis

Key Differences

• Boring Sponge is Not Evaluated while Cluster Bat is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Boring Sponge	Cluster Bat
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Porifera (Sponges)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Demospongiae (Demospongiae)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Clionaida (Clionaida)	Chiroptera (Bats)
Family	Clionaidae	Vespertilionidae
Genus	Cliona	Myotis
Species	Cliona celata	Myotis sodalis

Evolutionary Relationship

Boring Sponge and Cluster Bat share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Boring Sponge

NE — Not Evaluated

Cluster Bat

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Boring Sponge	Cluster Bat
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Boring Sponge

Habitat

Native to Europe and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and South America (Argentina).

Cluster Bat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in United States. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Boring Sponge

The Boring Sponge (Cliona celata) is a species in the genus Cliona. Native to Europe and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Cluster Bat

Myotis sodalis, the Indiana bat or cluster bat, is a medium-sized insectivorous bat in the family Vespertilionidae endemic to the eastern United States. It is one of the most endangered bats in North America, listed as Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. The species is named for its behavior of clustering in extremely dense hibernation groups—sometimes thousands of bats per square meter—in specific limestone caves and mines during winter. These few critical hibernacula make the species extremely vulnerable to disturbance and disease. Since 2007, Indiana bats have suffered severe mortality from white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans that disrupts hibernation and causes mass starvation. During summer, Indiana bats roost under loose bark of dead trees and forage for insects over forested landscapes and riparian areas. Foraging individuals consume moths, beetles, and flying insects. Conservation efforts include cave gate protection, white-nose syndrome research, and summer habitat management on public and private lands across the eastern US.