The Orange Elephant Ear Sponge is also known as Agelas clathrodes. This species is a hermaphrodite, meaning it has both male and female reproductive organs. During the reproductive season, this sponge releases sperm and eggs. The eggs become fertilized and begin to develop as they drift. Once they settle on a hard surface they begin to grow. The Orange Elephant Ear Sponge also reproduces asexually. Asexually reproduction is production in which offspring grow from a single parent and inherit the genes of the single parent. If a piece of the sponge is broken off, the water current will move that piece to a different location. At that location, the sponge attaches to the ocean floor and grows to be an adult sponge.
This picture shows how an Orange Elephant Ear Sponge can grow to enormous sizes compared to a diver.