1. Phylum Porifera
The Sponges

2. Characteristics No true tissues or organs No symmetry
No nerves or muscles
Sessile
Reproduce sexually and asexually
Skeletons composed of CaCO3 or SiO2 spicules or spongin
Filter feeders 2 2

3. Porifera Anatomy No true tissues
Consists of organized cells supported by a skeleton of:
spongin fibers
calcareous spicules
silica spicules
a combination of these, or perhaps no skeletal structure at all 3 3

4. Porifera Anatomy 4 4

5. Collar Cells
Choanocytes: (collar cells) act as a pump to bring water into the sponge 5

6. Sponge Support Collagen is found between the inner canals and chambers
Mesohyl
Ameboid cells located in the mesohyl, have different roles
Archeocytes
Sclerocytes 6 6

7. Spicules
Collagen is stiffened by adding microscopic mineral accretions or additional protein fibers (spongin) or both.
Spicules: skeleton structures, made of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or silicon dioxide (SiO2). 7
Phylum Porifrea 7

8. Porifera Classification
Phylum Porifera
Class Calcarea
Class Demospongiae
Class Hexactinellida
Sclerospongiae is no longer considered a class
Taxonomic Detail
All other classes
Desmospongia 8 8

9. Class Calcarea CaCO3 spicules
Mostly small in size (<15 cm.), and form irregular masses
Contains all asconoid forms
Most syconoids
Never contain spongin, restricted to shallow water, and strictly marine 9 9

10. Class Desmospongia Most marine sponges (90%) All freshwater sponges
Leuconoid
Spongin and SiO2 spicules 10 10

11. Class Hexactinellidae
Usually found in deep water on soft substrates in the tropics 200-1,000m.
Glass-like lattice work
SiO2 spicules
Spicules are six pointed and have a lattice-like structure
Cup, vase or urn shape 11 11

12. Hawaiian Sponges
Phylum Porifera
Class Desmospongiae
Gelliodes fibrosa

13. Hawaiian Sponges Phylum Porifera Class Desmospongiae
Haliclona caerulea

14. Hawaiian Sponges
Phylum Porifera
Class Desmospongiae
Suberites zeteki

15. Hawaiian Sponges
Phylum Porifera
Class Desmospongiae
Mycale parishii

16. Hawaiian Sponges Phylum Porifera Class Desmospongiae Mycale armata
The red one, it’s invasive
Phylum Porifera
Class Desmospongiae
Mycale armata

17. Decorator Crab

18. Hawaiian Sponges?