Distinguishing characteristics of sponges Continue Sponges are amazing creatures with some unique characteristics. Here is a brief overview of sponges and their features. You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Characteristics of sponges: BTW, They are animals, NOT plants! Sponges are amazing creatures with some unique characteristics. Here is a brief overview of sponges and their features. Almost all of us are familiar with commercial sponges, which are used for various purposes, such as cleaning. There are several living sponges found in both seawater as well as fresh water. These living species are not plants, but are classified as porifera animals. The name of this branch is derived from the pores on the body of the sponge, and it means the bearer of pores in Greek. It is believed that there are about 5000 to 10,000 species of sponges, and most of them are found in seawater. So sponges are unique aquatic animals with some interesting characteristics. Would you like to write to us? Well, we are looking for good writers who want to spread the word. Get in touch with us and we'll talk... Let's work together! Sponges are mainly found as part of marine life; but, about 100 to 150 species can be found in fresh water. They may resemble plants, but are actually sessile animals (inability to move). Sponges are often found attached to rocks and coral reefs. You can find them in different forms. While some of them are tube-like and straight, some others have a fan-like body. Some are found as crusts on rocks. You can also find sponges in the shape of glasses or vases, or like dense plants and trees. There are several sponges that have finger-like growths on them. Even the colors are different with different types. The color of the sponge ranges from white and beige, to shades of green, brown, yellow, red, purple, lavender and blue. They can be about an inch to more than 1.5 meters in width. While some of them are soft, some are really hard. They can be brittle or flexible. The body of the sponge can be described as an arrangement of different cell types. These cells do not form tissues, but are loosely arranged to form the body. Each cell type has a specific function. While one end of the body of a sponge is attached to the substrate (like stone), the other end is an opening, called osculum. In short, asymmetrical sponges (sometimes showing asymmetry of the center) hollow structures with a body wall. The body wall of a sponge consisting of two thin layers is separated with a gelatinous layer called mesohyl. The outer skin is made of epidermal cells. This layer has many pores that facilitate water entering and exiting the body. The cells responsible for the formation of pores are called porocytes. After the outer layer with epidermal cells and and The gel-like inner layer called mesohyl exists. In this class, there are certain cells, called amoebocytes responsible for transporting nutrients and digesting food. They are also responsible for the formation of spicules, which are considered the bones of this animal. They play an important role in the sexual reproduction of sponges. The same layer is made of collared cells or choanocytes that are flagellated. These cells use flagella to form a constant stream of water inside the sponge. This helps transport oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. They aid digestion of food as well as the elimination of waste, through osculum. Sponges have specialized cells with the ability to change to other cell types. Therefore, sponges are made of these specialized cells, and they do not have any head, trunk, body or apptubly. They are simple multi-celled organisms. Sponges are filter feeders, who absorb nutrients as well as oxygen from water, which enters its body through the pores. Most often, they feed on bacteria and food particles that are in the water; however, some species have a tbibial relationship with certain microorganisms. These microorganisms capable of conducting photosyntheses produce more food and oxygen, which will be shared with sponges. Some are predators, and eat small aquatic animals, such as crustaceans. Sponges can reproduction both sexually and asymlessly. Although, both male and female parts are found in the same individual, fertilization occurs only between sperm and ovum produced by different sponges. Even if the sperm is released by a sponge that enters the same organism through water, it is removed through osculum. The sperm travels with water currents, enters other individuals, and fertilizes the ovaries in mesohyl. After fertilization, the ciliated larvae swim and look for a substrate for growth. In the case of asstile reproduction, the sponge may undergo regeneration, in which a fragment or even a single cell can develop into a new individual. Another method is budding, in which new sponges will be formed with a few cells on the outer surface of the parents. This new sponge breaks and grows into a new individual. Another sponge feature is the formation of a bud called gemmule, inside its body. This gemmule is difficult and hardy, and if the sponge is killed under disadvantaged conditions, the gemmule will develop into a new individual. There are many more interesting and wonderful sponge events. If you are interested in knowing more about this animal, you can conduct an in-depth study of them. Characteristics of crustaceansÓapart from a delicious treat to our taste buds, crustaceans are also a very unique creation of nature! Please the characteristics of crustaceans are described in this ... Protista CharacteristicsProtista is one of the animal classifications It has different groups and subs. Their characteristics vary according to. For details read this article protista characteristics. Taiga AnimalsThe list of animals found in the taiga may not be as impressive as the list for other creatures, but this biome too, has a few lessons for everyone. This article is about aquatic animals. For the sponge cleaning tool, see Sponge (tool). For other uses, see Sponge (orientation). Porifera PoriferaTemporal Range: Ediacaran-Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N A Kitchen-Tube Scientific Classification Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: PoriferaGrant, 1836 Typical Species Amphimedon queenslandica[1] Calcarea Hexactinellida Demospongiae Homoscleromorpha †Stromatoporoidea Synonyms Parazoa/Ahistozoa (sans Placozoa)[2] Sponge, members of the Porifera branch (/pəˈrˈfərə/; meaning pore bearer), is a metazoa cbutt (animal) basically like a sister of Diploblasts. [5][6][7] They are multi-celled organisms with bodies full of pores and channels that allow water to circulate through them, including jelly-like mesohyl sandwiched between two thin layers of cells. The branch of animal studies sponges is called foam. [8] Sponges have non-specialized cells that can transform into other types and often move between the main cell layers and mesohyl during this process. Sponges do not have a nervous, digestive or circulatory system. Instead, most rely on maintaining a constant flow of water through their bodies to get food and oxygen and to eliminate waste. Sponges were the first to branch the evolutionary tree from the common ancestors of all animals, making them the sister group of all other animals. [3] The term Sponge terminology is derived from the ancient Greek σπγγος (spóngos). [9] An overview of sponge biodiversity and the esoo forms in the lips of a wall position in 60 feet (20 m) of water. Includes yellow tube sponge, Aplysina fistularis, purple vase sponge, Niphates digitalis, red encrusted sponge, Spirastrella coccinea [nl], and gray wire sponge, Callyspongia sp. Sponges are similar to other animals where they are multi-celled, heterosexual, lack cellular formation and production of sperm cells. Unlike other animals, they lack real tissues[10] and bodies. [11] Some of them are radiation-symmetrical, but mostly asymmetric. The shapes of their body are adjusted for the maximum effect of water flow through the central cavity, where water settles nutrients and then left through a hole called osculum. Many sponges have internal skeletons of foam and/or spicules (bone-like pieces) of calcium carbonate or silicon dioxide. [10] All sponges are aquatic sessile, which means that they attach to an underwater surface and remain in place (i.e. do not travel). Although there is fresh water most are marine species (saltwater), which have habitats from tidal zones to depths in excess of 8,800 m (5.5 mi). Although most of the approximately 5,000-10,000 species of sponges are known to feed on bacteria and other micro-foods in the country, some host photocrysymthesis microorganisms such as endemic, and these alliances often produce more food and oxygen than they consume. Some species of sponges living in poor food environments have evolutioned as predators whose prey is mostly small crustaceans. [12] Most species use sexual reproduction, which releases sperm cells into the water to fertilize the ovaries to which in some species are released and in others retained by the mother. Fertilized eggs develop into larvae, swimming out in search of places to settle. [13] Sponges are known for reproducing from broken debris, although this only works if the fragments consist of suitable cell types. Some species give birth by budding. As environmental conditions become less hospitable to sponges, e.g. temperatures drop, many freshwater species and some marine species produce gems, the surviving shells of non-specialized cells remain inactive until conditions improve; they then form completely new sponges or regenerate the skeletons of their parents. [14] In most sponges, an internal gelatin matrix called mesohyl functions as an endoskeleton, and it is the only skeleton in soft sponges that inscate rock-hard surfaces.