sponge

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freshwater sponge (Spongilla)

freshwater sponge

multicellular animal

Figure 33: (Top) A colony of three species of sponges, approximately three-quarters of life size. At top of colony is a small bread-crumb sponge (Halichondria); branching mass at right is leucosolenia complicata; tubular sponges on left are Scypha cilia

(Top) Spongia, (centre) Hippospongia communis, and (bottom) Spongia

respiration: animals

Exploring underwater caves at Calanques National Park

A simple saclike sponge. Its surface is perforated by small openings (incurrent pores) formed by tubelike cells (porocytes), which open into the internal cavity. A gelatinous middle layer contains the skeletal elements (spicules and spongin fibers) as well as amebocytes active in digestion, waste removal, and spicule and spongin formation. Flagellated collar cells (choanocytes) line the internal cavity, create currents to move water containing oxygen and food into the sponge, and engulf and digest food particles. Water and wastes are expelled through the ostium opening, whose size can be altered to regulate water flow through the sponge.

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sponge: Facts & Related Content

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Facts

Also Known As	Porifera • poriferan

Photos and Videos

freshwater sponge (Spongilla)

freshwater sponge

multicellular animal

Figure 33: (Top) A colony of three species of sponges, approximately three-quarters of life size. At top of colony is a small bread-crumb sponge (Halichondria); branching mass at right is leucosolenia complicata; tubular sponges on left are Scypha cilia

(Top) Spongia, (centre) Hippospongia communis, and (bottom) Spongia

respiration: animals

A simple saclike sponge. Its surface is perforated by small openings (incurrent pores) formed by tubelike cells (porocytes), which open into the internal cavity. A gelatinous middle layer contains the skeletal elements (spicules and spongin fibers) as well as amebocytes active in digestion, waste removal, and spicule and spongin formation. Flagellated collar cells (choanocytes) line the internal cavity, create currents to move water containing oxygen and food into the sponge, and engulf and digest food particles. Water and wastes are expelled through the ostium opening, whose size can be altered to regulate water flow through the sponge.

Exploring underwater caves at Calanques National Park

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Topics

archaeocyathid siliceous sponge calcareous sponge glass sponge Axinella Venus’s flower basket clionid horny sponge freshwater sponge Calcinea annelid echinoderm flatworm cnidarian arthropod mollusk moss animal lamp shells beard worm arrowworm

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