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Porifera
(sponges)
Sponges are found in mostly benthic marine habitats but there are a few species that live in freshwater. They are sessile as adults with a motile larval stage. Sponges are multicellular and lack true embryological germ layering (true tissue). They are composed of calcium carbonate or silicon dioxide in the form of spicules and/or collagen fibers. Flagellated cells called choanocytes are what sponges use to circulate water and food through canals in the organisms body. (Brusca et al., 2003, Kozloff, 2000)
References:
Brusca, R.C., and Brusca, G.J. (2003). Invertebrates. Library of Congress Catologing-in-Publication-Data: USA.
Kozloff, Eugene N. (2000). Seashore Life of the Northern Pacific Coast. University of Washington Press: Seattle and London.
Last updated Tuesday, September 05, 2006, by Lisa Ferrier
