Sponges

Group 1: Sponges (Porifera)

Sponges

Group 1 - Sponges: Sponges make up the phylum Porifera, meaning "pore bearers". They can be found all over the world, from the poles to the tropics, in both shallow and deep water. There are approximately 8,500 known living species of sponges, most of which live in saltwatre environments.

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The Orange Tree Sponge, belonging to the family Axinellidae, is a stunning marine invertebrate found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. Its intricate branching structure resembles a tree, with vibrant orange coloration that adds to its allure. As filter feeders, they play a crucial role in marine ecosystems by purifying water and providing habitat for various organisms. Despite their ecological importance, Orange Tree Sponges are vulnerable to habitat destruction and pollution.

Orange Tree Sponge (Family Axinellidae)

The Orange Tree Sponge, belonging to the family Axinellidae, is a stunning marine invertebrate found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. Its intricate branching structure resembles a tree, with vibrant orange coloration that adds to its allure. As filter feeders, they play a crucial role in marine ecosystems by purifying water and providing habitat for various organisms. Despite their ecological importance, Orange Tree Sponges are vulnerable to habitat destruction and pollution.

Choose an Invertebrate Category

1. Sponges (Porifera)

2. Marine Worms

3. Shells (Mollusca)

4. Spiny Skins (Echinodermata)

5. Segmented Bodies (Arthropoda)

7. Cnidaria. Phylum Cnidaria consists of over 11,000 individual species of aquatic animals, including jellyfish, anemones and corals.

6. Cnidaria

5 Fun Facts - Sponges

Fun Facts Marine Sponges

Sponges are different from other invertebrates because they lack tissues and organs. Their bodies are made of cells, each of which performs a diffrent tasks such as filtering food particles from water or expelling waste from the body.

Body Shape: Their body shape is designed to efficiently channel water through the sponge, collecting nutrients and eliminating unwanted particles and chemicals.

Sessile beings: Mature sponges are sessile, meaning they are permenently attached to the ocean floor or some other hard surface.

Asexual Reproduction: Sponges can reproduce both asexually and sexually, in several different ways. Fragmentation is the most common form of reproduction for sponges and occurs accidentally. It happens when a piece of a sponge is broken off the main body, such as by an animal or storm. If the fragmented piece contains the necesarry types of cells, it can settle and regrow as a new sponge.

Sexual Reproduction: Sponges can reproduce sexually through a process called broadcast spawning. When this happens, gametes; sperm and eggs are released into the water where fertilization and larval development occurs. These events can be triggered by environmental factors such as tides or temperature changes.

Defense: Sponges are incapable of responding to environmental changes or physical threats. To protect themselves from harm, many sponges use chemicals as form of self-defense. These chemicals can be toxic to potential predators or may simply have an unpleasant taste.