The Zone Without A Backbone

Phylum: 

• Sponges belong to the phylum Porifera

Body Characteristics:

• Sponges do not have organs, or organ systems, like we do. They only have a loose assemblage of cells.
• They do have something called spicules that support their figure. The spicules vary for every species of sponge. They also have collagen, a soft protien that helps to support them.
• Sponges' collar cells' flagella help to pump water and tiny protists into the sponge. They have to pump over 1 ton of food just to eat 1 ounce of food.

Habitat:

• Sponges have to live in water, but they can live in any kind of water they want; tropical, arctic, salt, or even fresh water. 

Reproduction:

• Sponges are hermaphrodites, which means they have both male and female parts. Some sponges change these parts in the middle of the year.
• They reproduce by one sponge releasing a cloud of sperm. The sperm will float through the water and hopefully one sperm will find its way into another sponge's egg without being eaten.

Movement:

• The only time that a sponge will ever move in its life is when the sponge larva crawls out of the parent sponge and find a place to start to grow.

Importance of Sponges:

• Sponges are important because they are a habitat for some fish and shrimp. This is a form of commensalism.
• Sponges are also important because they are a form of protection for the crab that wears the sponge as a hat. This is a form of parasitism.
• And finally, sponges are important because they allow sea cucumbers to eat the excess food that comes out of their bodies. This is a form of commensalism.
• Humans also use sponges for art and as a way of cleaning.

Rock On Sponges!!

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