Phylum Phylum PoriferaPorifera

““Sponges”Sponges”

Kingdom: AnimaliaKingdom: Animalia

Phylum: PoriferaPhylum: Porifera

Classes: HexactinellidaClasses: Hexactinellida

DemospongiaDemospongia

CalcareaCalcarea

Phylum PoriferaPhylum Porifera

• SpongesSponges

• 5,000 living species5,000 living species

• Three Distinct Groups:Three Distinct Groups:– Hexactinellida (glass Hexactinellida (glass

sponges)sponges)– DemospongiaDemospongia– Calcarea (calcareous Calcarea (calcareous

sponges)sponges)

• Most primitive of all Most primitive of all animalsanimals

Major Characteristics:Major Characteristics:

• Feed by filtering water through their Feed by filtering water through their outer walls and pumping it out of bodyouter walls and pumping it out of body

• Flow of water is uni-directionalFlow of water is uni-directional

• Generally non-motile but can move up Generally non-motile but can move up to 4 mm per dayto 4 mm per day

• Almost all are marine organismsAlmost all are marine organisms

• Amorphous & AssymetricalAmorphous & Assymetrical

Feeding:Feeding:

• Flow of water through Flow of water through the sponge allows for the sponge allows for feeding, waste feeding, waste removal, and the removal, and the intake of oxygenintake of oxygen

• A combination of A combination of pressure, flagella, and pressure, flagella, and contractile contractile movements pump movements pump waterwater

• Filter Bacteria as a Filter Bacteria as a food sourcefood source

Moving Water/Current = Low Pressure

Water pumped in through the walls

Reproduction:Reproduction:

• Can reproduce Can reproduce sexually and asexuallysexually and asexually

• Sexually they release Sexually they release large amounts sperm large amounts sperm that are taken in by that are taken in by females of the same females of the same speciesspecies

• Sexually they could be Sexually they could be hermaphrodites (a hermaphrodites (a boy/girl in the same boy/girl in the same organism)organism)

• Asexually they Asexually they produce budsproduce buds

Structure / Anatomy:Structure / Anatomy:

• No tissues or No tissues or organsorgans

• Each type of Each type of sponge cell is sponge cell is responsible for a responsible for a specific functionspecific function

Skeletal / Muscular:Skeletal / Muscular:• Opening at top Opening at top

called the osculumcalled the osculum

• Gelatinous interior Gelatinous interior called the called the mesohylmesohyl

• The interior cavity The interior cavity called the called the spongocoelspongocoel

OSCULUM - opening

MESOHYL

SPONGOCOEL

Structure / Anatomy:Structure / Anatomy:

Structure / Anatomy:Structure / Anatomy:

Spicules:Spicules:

Skeletal / Muscular:Skeletal / Muscular:• The skeleton is made up of calcium The skeleton is made up of calcium

carbonate splinters called spicules and/or carbonate splinters called spicules and/or a protein based mesh like substance called a protein based mesh like substance called sponginspongin

Skeletal / Muscular:Skeletal / Muscular:• The structural wall consists of the outer The structural wall consists of the outer

pinacocyte cells, a middle layer of gelatin pinacocyte cells, a middle layer of gelatin containg amoebocyte cells, while the interior containg amoebocyte cells, while the interior consists of the collar cells which have flagellaconsists of the collar cells which have flagella

Circulatory:Circulatory:

• Amoeboid Cells Amoeboid Cells in the wall in the wall transport food transport food and nutrientsand nutrients

Excretory:Excretory:

• All wastes are All wastes are purged through purged through the main pore the main pore called the called the osculumosculum

Respiratory / NervousRespiratory / Nervous

• Various cells take in oxygen through Various cells take in oxygen through diffusiondiffusion

• No nervous system is presentNo nervous system is present

Digestive:Digestive:

• Filter feedersFilter feeders

• Collar cells Collar cells engulf and engulf and digest food digest food vacuolesvacuoles

• Use amoeboid Use amoeboid cells to cells to distribute distribute nutrientsnutrients

Class: Class: HexactinellidaHexactinellida

• Glass spongesGlass sponges• Consists of silica Consists of silica

constructed constructed fibers called fibers called spiculesspicules

• Cannot contract Cannot contract like other like other sponges though sponges though can send can send electrical electrical impulsesimpulses

Class: Class: DemospongiaDemospongia

• Most diversityMost diversity

• 90% of species 90% of species fall into this fall into this classclass

• Can consist of Can consist of spongin and / spongin and / or silica or silica spiculesspicules

Class: Class: CalcareaCalcarea

• Found in Found in shallow watersshallow waters

• Spicules are Spicules are composed of composed of calciumcalcium