Schoolgirl names new species of sponge

A nine year old from Norfolk has named a new species of sea sponge identified off the north Norfolk coast in a chalk reef - the biggest in Europe.

The girl, whose name is Sylvie Owen from Binham, came up with Parpal Dumplin after noticing that the sponge was purple and resembled a dumpling.

The Marine Conservation Society's Agents of Change project asked children to use their creativity to name the species, which was found in chalk beds by volunteer divers from Seasearch a decade ago.

Panellists were unanimous in their decision and particularly liked that the spelling gives the sponge a strong connection to Norfolk.

Sponges help to keep seawater clean by filter feeding and consuming tiny particles of food that float by. There are more than 11,000 different species globally.