Fun Facts:

•  Some sponges can live for over hundreds of years.

• Some sponges can gain food from photosynthesis through a symbiotic (two organisms interacting) relationship with algae. 

• Sponges can filter incredible amounts of water, over 20,000 times their own volume.

• Some sponges are so large they can fit a full grown person inside!

• Sea sponges contain iodine and have been used for medicinal purposes throughout the ancient Greek and Roman times as well as the Middle Ages. Scientists are currently researching sponges for possible applications in the treatment of cancer.

Key Characteristics:

• Body Structure: Sponges do not have true tissues or organs. Body is a loose connection of cells

• Regeneration: Sponges are able to regenerate lost parts and can rebuild from fragments.

• Feeding: filter feeders that use collar cells to trap food particles.

• Water Canal system: called the aquiferous system that circulates water in and out of the orgaism, bringing in oxygen and food and removing waste.

• Reproduction: can reproduce asexually through budding, which is similar to cloning, and sexually as they are hermaphrodites, have both male and female sex organs in one body. 

• Symmetry: have no symmetry

Sponges Explained!

Biology and History of Sponges

Simple Sponge Body Plan