Sponges are more abundant but less diverse in temperate waters than in tropical waters, possibly because organisms

that prey on
sponges are more abundant in tropical waters.

The habitat of deep-water corals, also known as cold-water corals, extends to deeper, darker parts of the oceans than tropical corals
The fragile glass sponges, with "scaffolding" of silica spicules, are restricted to polar regions and the ocean depths where predators
are rare. They are the most common in polar waters and in the depths of temperate and tropical seas, as their very porous
construction enables them to extract food from these resource-poor waters with the minimum of effort.
Glass sponges are relatively uncommon and are mostly found at depths from 450 to 900 metres although the species Oopsacas
minuta has been found in shallow water, while others have been found much deeper. They are found in all oceans of the world,
although they are particularly common in Antarctic and Northern Pacific waters.[1] The shallow water occurrence of hexactinellids
is rare world wide. In the Antarctic two species occur as shallow as 33 meters under the ice. In the Mediterranean one species
occurs as shallow as 18 metres in a cave with deep water upwelling
In apele reci ale marilor din toata lumea, la adancimi cuprinse intre 200-2000 m se gasesc aproximativ 500 de specii de bureti de
sticla
Aceste specii au existat inca de acum milioane de ani in urma, din perioada Cretacicului. Se remarca prin corpul lor ce are forma
unica – de sac, ceasca sau tub – inalt de peste 0,50 m si transversal lung de 1 m. Buretii au scheletul de forma unei structuri fragile
anorganice – numite spiculi – care sunt o combinatie intre carbonatul de calciu si dioxidul de siliciu.

They are usually classified along with other sponges in the phylum Porifera, but some researchers consider them sufficiently distinct
to deserve their own phylum, Symplasma.
Unlike other sponges, they do not possess the ability to contract.[1]One ability they do possess is a unique system for rapidly
conducting electrical impulses across their bodies, making it possible for them to respond quickly to external stimuli.
Demosponges and calcareous sponges are abundant and diverse in shallower non-polar waters.[30]
Demosponges constitute about 90% of all known sponge species, including all freshwater ones, and have the widest range of
habitats. Calcareous sponges, which have calcium carbonate spicules and, in some species, calcium carbonate exoskeletons, are
restricted to relatively shallow marine waters where production of calcium carbonate is easiest.
 However, studies have shown that the Homoscleromorpha, a group thought to belong to the Demospongiae, is actually
phylogenetically well separated. Therefore, they have recently been recognized as the fourth class of sponges. [12][13]
Suberites carnosus Johnston, 1842    Este o specie din Marea Neagra prezenta si in dreptul coastelor romanesti.

Archaeocyathids, whose fossils are common in rocks from 530 to 490 million years ago, are now regarded as a type of sponge.
Archeocyatha are known only as fossils from the Cambrian period.[52]

 Calcarea
Sycon ciliatum Fabricius, 1780
  Este reprezentantul acestui grup in Marea Neagra. Are cca. 1-2 cm, culoarea hialina si este intalnit frecvent in biocenoza
cu Modiolula phaseolina, intre 30-80 m adancime. Osculul este inconjurat de spiculi lungi, iar din ectoderm se evidentiaza spiculi
monaxonici.
Demospongiae
   In acest grup sunt incluse cele mai multe specii de spongieri actuali, cu mai multi osculi, cu structura foarte complicata si cu
schelet eterogen format din macro si microsclerite silicioase de diferite forme si din fibre de spongina care domina scheletul.