Phylum Porifera

“Sponges”

By: Group 2
 Porifera- General Charactersistics
▪ Multicellular
▪ Heterotrophic-filter feeder
▪ Lack symmetry
▪ Matrix- mass of Cells
• No definite organs or system is present
• Their body contains pores, (ostia). The largest pore is known as Osculum through which the water is
discharged out.
• They are diplobastic. Their body wall is composed of two layers:
* outer (ectoderm)
* inner ( endoderm)
and between this two layers a middle region is also present, called Mesenchyme. The Mesenchyme is
consist of amoebocytes and spicules .
• The cells of Ectoderm is called Pinacocytes (these are thin, flat and scale like)
• The cells of Endoderm are called Choanocytes (oval shaped and flagellate)
• The cells which form pores in the body wall are called Porocytes
• These animals do not have head, mouth and alimentary canal. They use bacteria and organic matter as
their food by filtration.
• They do not have nervous system.
• Sponges are hermaphrodite(bisexual), but some are unisexual. Sperms are transferred into another
sponge where fertilization zygote develops into a free swimming Amphibastula larva. It attached to the
bottom, then develops into new sponge.
Osculum

Choanocyte
Mesenchyme
Epidermis

Amoebocyte
Pore

Spicule

Central Cavity
Osculum – water leaves through this hole at
the top of the sponge
Choanocytes – cells that use a flagellum to move a steady current of water
through the sponge; also trap food & begin digestion process
Mesenchyme – jelly like middle layer where amoebocytes pick up nutrients
Amoebocytes – cells that complete digestion of food particles & transfer
nutrients throughout the sponge; also help make spicules
Spicule – spike-shaped structure that makes up the skeletons of harder
sponges; made of either chalklike calcium carbonate of glasslike silica

Epidermis – outer layer of body wall.

 Feeding Method
1. Brought in by choanocytes (collar cells) & digestion begins
intracellular (inside cell)
2. Choanocytes release nutrients into mesenchyme
3. Amoebocytes pick up nutrients, complete digestion, deliver
nutrients to the sponge, & pick up wastes
4. Waste removed by pores
 Reproduction
• Asexual – budding

• Gemmules – is a small body produced from amoeboid cells

covered by epithelial cells. (During favorable conditions it
develops into new porifera.

• Sexual – can produce egg and sperm, but CANNOT self fertilize
 Habitat
• Live attached to sea floor (sessile) meaning they live permanently attached to rocks or
other submerged.
 Classes:
(according to the composition of their skeletons)

i. Class Calceria. (Calcarius=limy)

• The spongesof this class are small.
• Their skeleton is made up of calcareous spicules.
• Example: Scypha

ii. Hexactanellida (Hex=six, Actin=ray)

(Their skeleton is made up of six-rayed siliceous spicules)

iii.Desmospongiae (Dermas= Frame, Spongos=sponges)

(Their skeleton is made up of siliceous spicules or sponging fibers or both or none.

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