BIO 385 — Invertebrate Zoology
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Invertebrate Diversity
Phylum Porifera — Sponges

(Click on any image for larger version)

Poriferan Characteristics

  • Multicellular, but lack true tissues
  • Asymmetrical or radial symmetry
  • Adults sessile suspension feeders
  • Internal skeleton composed of spicules (calcium carbonate or silicon dioxide) or collagen fibers
Scypha Spicules
Sponge spicules (Scypha sp.)
Spongilla Spicules
Sponge spicules (Spongilla sp.)
Sponge Fibers
Commercial sponge collagen fibers (Spongin)

Class Desmospongia

Characteristics

  • Includes majority of sponges
  • Spicules composed of silicon dioxide or replaced by spongin (collagen network)
  • Nearly all have leuconoid grade of construction
  • Diverse marine and fresh water habitats
Fire Sponge
Fire Sponge, Tedania ignis, Belize
Red Encrusting Sponge
Red Encrusting Sponge, Antho sp.; Cabrillo N.M., CA
Red Ball Sponge
Red Ball Sponge, Psuedaxinella lunaecharta
Red Sponge
Red Sponge, probably Clathria pennata, encrusting worm tubes; La Jolla, CA
Red Volcano Sponge
Red Volcano Sponge, Acarnus erithacus
Puffball Sponge
Orange Puffball Sponge, Tethya aurantia
Nipple Sponge
Aggregated Nipple Sponge, Polymastia sp.
Haliclona Sponge
Blue Sponge, Haliclona sp.?
Slippery Sponge
Slippery Sponge, Aplysilla sp.?, an encrusting intertidal sponge; La Jolla, CA
Finger Sponge
Finger Sponge, dried specimen
Elephant Ear Sponge
Elephant Ear Sponge, Ianthella sp., dried specimen
Dried Sponge
Sponge, possibly Gelliodes or Callyspongia sp.?, dried specimen

Class Calcarea

Characteristics

  • Spicules composed of calcium carbonate
  • Spicules not usually differentiated into mega- vs microscleres
  • Includes species with Asconoid, Synconoid, and Leuconoid body forms
  • Marine
Scypha Sponge
Scypha sp., a synconoid-type sponge; preserved specimen.
Leucosolenia Sponge
Leucosolenia sp., an ascanoid-type sponge; stained whole mount.
Leucosolenia Sponge higher mag
Leucosolenia sp., an ascanoid-type sponge; stained whole mount (higher magnification stacked image).
Unidentified Sponge
Sponge, possibly Sycon sp.
Ball Sponges
Ball Sponges, Leucandra sp.?
Scypha LS
Scypha sp.; stained longitutinal section, 100x.
See also labeled photo.
Grantia CS
Grantia sp.; stained cross section (related to Scypha), 100x.
See also labeled photo.
Grantia Canals
Grantia sp.; cross section showing canals and embryos, 400x.
See also labeled photo.
Grantia Spicules
Grantia sp.; cross section showing spicules, 400x.
See also labeled photo.

Class Hexactinellida

Characteristics

  • Glass Sponges
  • Spicules composed of silicon dioxide, 6-rayed; complex skeletons
  • Radially symmetric
  • Syconoid and leuconoid body forms
  • Lacks outer pinacoderm layer
  • Deep water marine
Venus Flower Basket
Venus' Flower Basket, Euplectella sp., skeleton.
White Ruffle Sponge
Skeleton of White Ruffle Sponge, Farrea occa?
Hexactinella Spicules
Interconnected spicules forming a skeleton (Farrea sp.)

Fossil Sponges (Extinct Groups)

Characteristics

Archaeocyathid sponge
Archaeocyathid sponge fossil (cross sections); Early Cambrian Period, 516 Ma; Australia.
Archaeocyathid Model
Model of Metaldetes, an Archaeocyathid sponge from the Cambrian Period
Vauxia Model
Model of Vauxia sp., a Cambrian sponge
This page last updated 29 May 2021 by Udo M. Savalli ()
Images and text © Udo M. Savalli. All rights reserved.