Sponges
Porous filter feeders
Usually marine
Adults are sessile
Asymmetric body
Choanocytes (collar cells) use flagella to create currents that pass
through small channels in the wall of the sponge.
Nutrients are filtered out of the current as it passes through the
wall.
The current exits the osculum of the sponge.
Sponges have support ("skeletal") structures called spicules.
Sponges are classified based on spicule composition.
Class Calceria (calcium carbonate spicules)
Class Hexactinellida (silicon dioxide ("glass") spicules)
Class Demospongae (spongin (protein)
spicules)
Lab pictures other images