Transcript Phylum Porifera

Or-The Wonderful World of Sponges
Sponge Structure
 The bodies of many sponges are only 2 layers thick
 Their bodies are covered in many small pores (holes) that
let water in
 Some sponges have spikes between the inner and outer
layer of cells. These spikes form a rigid frame that helps
support the sponges body. It also helps keep away
hungry fish!
 Water leaves the sponge through a large hole at the top
called the osculum.
 The skeleton of sponges is what we use for cleaning!
A little sponge humor…
Sponge Reproduction
 Sexual reproduction-A sponge can be male for a part of the
year and female for another part of the year. The male
sponges release sperm into the water which fertilizes the
eggs of female sponges. After the eggs are fertilized, a
larvae forms. The larvae swims to a new place and
attaches to a surface and becomes a sessile
(sessile=doesn’t move) sponge. The new sponge is not
identical to either parent sponge.
 Asexual reproduction-Budding is when a new sponge
grows off the body of the original sponge. The bud
eventually breaks off and becomes a new sponge. The
new sponge is genetically identical to the original.
Sponge Reproduction Cont…
 Click here for a short video clip...
Sponge Snacking
 Sponges feed by straining food from
the water
 They eat bacteria and small protists
 Special cells inside the body of the
sponge called collar cells trap the food
particles as they pass through. Collar
cells have tail-like structures the beat
back and forth to move water through
the sponge.
Sponge Pics