Almost all of us are familiar with commercial sponge, used for various purpose, like, cleaning. But, there are certain living sponges that are found in both sea water as well as fresh water. These living sponges are not plants, but are classified as animals that belong to the phylum Porifera. The name of this phylum is derived from the pores on the body of the sponges and it means pore bearer (in Greek). This phylum is subdivided into three classes - Calcarea, Hexactinellida, and Demospongia. It is believed that there are around 5000 to 10,000 species of sponges and most of them are found in sea water. So, sponges are unique aquatic animals with interesting as well as amazing characteristics. Let us take a look at some of their spongy characteristics.
Characteristics of Sponges
So, sponges are primarily found as a part of marine biome, but, around 100 to 150 species can be found in freshwater too. They may resemble plants, but are actually animals that are sessile (not capable of movements). They are often found attached to rocks, coral reefs, etc. You may find them in many different forms. While, some of them are tube-like and straight, some others have fan-like body. Some are found as crusts over rocks. You may also find sponges in the shape of cups or vases or like bushy plants and trees. There are some sponges that have finger-like growths on them. Even the colors vary with different types of sponges. It can be anything from white, beige, to shades of green, brown, yellow, red, purple, lavender, blue, etc. They may have a width of around one inch to more than 1.5 meters. While, some of them are soft, some are hard. They can be brittle or flexible too. Now that you know about some of the basic sea sponges characteristics, let us take a detailed look at the different facts about this animal.
* The body of sponges can be described as an arrangement of different types of cells. In other words, the cells that make up the body of a sponge, do not form tissues, but are loosely arranged to form the body. Each type of cell is having a specific function.
* While, one end of the body of a sponge is found to be attached to the substrate (like rocks), the other end is an opening, which is termed as osculum. In short, sponges are asymmetrical (sometimes displays radial symmetry) hollow structures with body wall.
* The body wall of a sponge consists of two thin layers that is separated with a thin gelatinous layer called mesohyl. The outer skin is made of epidermal cells. This layer has numerous pores that facilitate water to travel in and out of the body. The cells that are responsible for the formation of pores are called porocytes.
* After the outer layer with epidermal cells and porocytes, the gel like inner layer called mesohyl exists. In this layer, there are certain cells called amoebocytes that are responsible for transport of nutrients, digestion of food, etc. They are also responsible for the formation of spicules, that are considered as the skeletal fibers of this animal. They play an important role in the sexual reproduction of sponges.
* The innermost layer is made of collar cells or choanocytes that are flagellated. These cells use the flagella to form a continuous current of water inside the sponge. This helps in transporting oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the sponge's body. They aid in digestion of food as well as removal of waste, through the osculum.
* One of the interesting sponge facts is that the specialized cells of these animals have the ability to change to other cell types. So, sponges are made of these specialized cells and they do not have any head, trunk, bodily organs or appendages. They are simple multicellular organisms.
* One of the important sponges characteristics is that they are filter feeders, who absorb nutrients as well as oxygen from the water, that enters its body through the pores. Usually, they feed on bacteria and food particles present in the water, but, some sponges are found to have symbiotic relation with certain microorganisms. These microorganisms that are capable of conducting photosynthesis produce more food and oxygen, that will be shared with the sponges. Some sponges are carnivorous in nature and feed on small aquatic animals, like crustaceans.
* Sponges can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Even though, both male and female parts are found in the same sponge, fertilization happens only between the sperm and ovum produced by different sponges. Even if the sperm released by a sponge enters the same organism through water, it will discarded through the osculum. The sperms travel with water currents, enter other sponges and fertilize the ova in mesohyl. After fertilization, the ciliated larva swims and finds a substrate for growth.
* In case of asexual reproduction, the sponge may undergo regeneration, in which a broken piece or even a single cell may develop to a new sponge. Another method is budding, in which new sponge will be formed with a few cells on the exterior surface of the parent sponge. This new sponge breaks off and grows as a new individual. Another sponges characteristics is the formation of a bud called gemmule, inside its body. This gemmule is tough and hardy and if the sponge is killed in adverse conditions, the gemmule will develop into a new individual.
The above said is only a brief and general overview about sponges characteristics. There are many more interesting and amazing sea sponge facts. If you are interested in knowing more about this animals, you may conduct an in depth study about them.
Characteristics of Sponges
So, sponges are primarily found as a part of marine biome, but, around 100 to 150 species can be found in freshwater too. They may resemble plants, but are actually animals that are sessile (not capable of movements). They are often found attached to rocks, coral reefs, etc. You may find them in many different forms. While, some of them are tube-like and straight, some others have fan-like body. Some are found as crusts over rocks. You may also find sponges in the shape of cups or vases or like bushy plants and trees. There are some sponges that have finger-like growths on them. Even the colors vary with different types of sponges. It can be anything from white, beige, to shades of green, brown, yellow, red, purple, lavender, blue, etc. They may have a width of around one inch to more than 1.5 meters. While, some of them are soft, some are hard. They can be brittle or flexible too. Now that you know about some of the basic sea sponges characteristics, let us take a detailed look at the different facts about this animal.
* The body of sponges can be described as an arrangement of different types of cells. In other words, the cells that make up the body of a sponge, do not form tissues, but are loosely arranged to form the body. Each type of cell is having a specific function.
* While, one end of the body of a sponge is found to be attached to the substrate (like rocks), the other end is an opening, which is termed as osculum. In short, sponges are asymmetrical (sometimes displays radial symmetry) hollow structures with body wall.
* The body wall of a sponge consists of two thin layers that is separated with a thin gelatinous layer called mesohyl. The outer skin is made of epidermal cells. This layer has numerous pores that facilitate water to travel in and out of the body. The cells that are responsible for the formation of pores are called porocytes.
* After the outer layer with epidermal cells and porocytes, the gel like inner layer called mesohyl exists. In this layer, there are certain cells called amoebocytes that are responsible for transport of nutrients, digestion of food, etc. They are also responsible for the formation of spicules, that are considered as the skeletal fibers of this animal. They play an important role in the sexual reproduction of sponges.
* The innermost layer is made of collar cells or choanocytes that are flagellated. These cells use the flagella to form a continuous current of water inside the sponge. This helps in transporting oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the sponge's body. They aid in digestion of food as well as removal of waste, through the osculum.
* One of the interesting sponge facts is that the specialized cells of these animals have the ability to change to other cell types. So, sponges are made of these specialized cells and they do not have any head, trunk, bodily organs or appendages. They are simple multicellular organisms.
* One of the important sponges characteristics is that they are filter feeders, who absorb nutrients as well as oxygen from the water, that enters its body through the pores. Usually, they feed on bacteria and food particles present in the water, but, some sponges are found to have symbiotic relation with certain microorganisms. These microorganisms that are capable of conducting photosynthesis produce more food and oxygen, that will be shared with the sponges. Some sponges are carnivorous in nature and feed on small aquatic animals, like crustaceans.
* Sponges can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Even though, both male and female parts are found in the same sponge, fertilization happens only between the sperm and ovum produced by different sponges. Even if the sperm released by a sponge enters the same organism through water, it will discarded through the osculum. The sperms travel with water currents, enter other sponges and fertilize the ova in mesohyl. After fertilization, the ciliated larva swims and finds a substrate for growth.
* In case of asexual reproduction, the sponge may undergo regeneration, in which a broken piece or even a single cell may develop to a new sponge. Another method is budding, in which new sponge will be formed with a few cells on the exterior surface of the parent sponge. This new sponge breaks off and grows as a new individual. Another sponges characteristics is the formation of a bud called gemmule, inside its body. This gemmule is tough and hardy and if the sponge is killed in adverse conditions, the gemmule will develop into a new individual.
The above said is only a brief and general overview about sponges characteristics. There are many more interesting and amazing sea sponge facts. If you are interested in knowing more about this animals, you may conduct an in depth study about them.
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