Scientific Name ~ Porifera

Common Name ~ Sponges

Characteristics

Sponges are the simplest animals.

There are about 9,000 different species.

The name Porifera refers to the body of the sponge in which it is perforated by tiny holes or pores.

The body of an adult is anchored in place on the sea floor and functions as a water-filtering machine. There for the sponge is most commonly known as a filter feeder.

They have a rigid body structure which completely lacks symmetry.

The unique thing about them is if you cut them into a million little pieces and throw them into the ocean and they will regenerate no matter how small the pieces are.

Their bodies consist of little more than masses of specialized cells embedded in a gel-like substance, called matrix.

When you hear the word sponge you first think of is something that you bathe with. Actually some sea sponges are still used today for that purpose.

Credits Included:

Johnson, George B. and Raven, Peter H.; Biology: Principles&Explorations; Copyright date 1996 by Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc.

This page was done by: Stephanie Miller

Curator: Beth Jewell, beth.jewell@fcps.edu