• Found from intertidal zone to depths of 6000 meters

• World-wide distribution from polar seas to tropical waters

• Over 5000 species of sponges exist in ocean environment

• 150 species are adapted to freshwater environments

Phylum PoriferaPore bearer (latin)

PrimativeSessileMostly MarineFilter Feeders that

pump water throughout body extracting nutrients

3 Classes of Sponges• Calcarea

– (bony sponges)

• Hexactenellida – (Glass sponges)

• Demospongiae– (spongin sponges)–Most common type

Anatomy of a Sponge

• Simplest animal

• No true tissues

• Lack muscles, nerves and internal organs

Spicules• Stiffened rods or spikes made

of calcium carbonate or silica• Used for structure and defense• Many fish cannot digest the

spicules, so sponges are not in their diet.

• Research concerning the spicules of the Venus’ Flower Basket Sponge promises to yield new technology with Fiber Optics

Spawning Barrel Sponge - Budding

Sponge Development