Phylum Porifera
Darcie and Kolby
Sea Sponges
General Description
These sea sponges are slow moving animals. They cover the sea floor. The adult sea sponge is classified as a sessile, which means they are attached to something, like a rock, and do not move. They only move with the water current. They were found about 500 million years ago. There are about 5,000 species all around the world.
Characteristics of a sea sponge
- Has no nerves system
- Multi cellular body, few tissues, and no organs
- Most likely have a skeleton of spicules
- Have a distinct larva stage, which is plank tonic
- All are sessile (attached to something as an adult)
- Lives mostly in marine environments
- Filter feeders
- Absorbs water through pores and specialized filter cells
- Skin is smooth
- Common colors: Green, Red, Blue, Yellow, Orange, Brown
Special Adaptations
"Porifera." The Excretory System. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2017.
Feeding and Digestion
Circulation
A sea sponge does not have a circulatory system. They only have the flow of water for nutrients and oxygen. Water flows in the protocyte. Water flows out of large openings called Oscula. The process of diffusion.
Excretion
"Sponges: Characters, Classification and Types | Zoology." Biology Discussion. N.p., 02 May 2016. Web. 09 May 2017.
Movement
Nerves System
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/invertebrates/sponge/
Reproduction
Fun Facts!!
- Fossil sponges are the oldest animal fossils.
- It is not a coral
- New sponges are found every year
- A sponge can have up to 16,000 species in it
- They do not have organs
- Sea sponges are animals
- They have been on the ocean for 500 million years
- About 5,000 species worldwide
- Amallest sponge is 1 inch long and the largest is 4 feet tall
- Sea sponges have very few predators
Stove-Pipe Sponge
Glass Sponge
Calcareous Sponge
Demospongia
Wool Sea Sponge
Grass sea sponge
Names of a sea sponge
Scientific name: Demospongiae
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Other names
- Sycon
- Spongilla
Work Cited (MLA FORMAT)
"Porifera." The Excretory System. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2017.
Sponges - EnchantedLearning.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2017.
SPONGE: FEEDING. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2017.
Introduction to Porifera. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2017.
F, Biology 11 Block. "Porifera." MOVEMENT. N.p., 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 08 May 2017.
"Sponges: Characters, Classification and Types | Zoology." Biology Discussion. N.p., 02 May 2016. Web. 09 May 2017.
Animals, A-Z. "Sponge." A-Z Animals - Animal Facts, Pictures and Resources. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2017.
"The Phylum Porifera." The Sponges (Phylum Porifera). N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2017.
Posted by Ed Yong on April 12, 2009. "Simple Sponges Provide Clues to Origin of Nervous System." Not Exactly Rocket Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2017.
"Investigation." About Sponges. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2017.