Absorbing examples of marine life (7)
I believe the answer is:
sponges
'absorbing examples of marine life' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'absorbing examples of marine life' is the wordplay.
'absorbing' becomes 'sponge' (I've seen this before).
'examples of marine life' becomes 's' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'sponge'+'s'='SPONGES'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sponges that I've seen before include "Primitive, porous, marine animals" , "Cakes" , "heavy drinkers" , "Light, highly absorbent skeletons of marine animals" , "Cadges like sea animal" .)