Phylum Porifera (Sponges) : Dr. Khalid M. Salih

Phylum Porifera (Sponges)
Dr. Khalid M. Salih

Definition
• Porifera is the only phylum of the Parazoa (no true tissues) in the Kingdom
Animalia.
• More than 5000 animal species of Sponges constitute the Phylum Porifera
• Sponges are mostly marine inhabitants , but few are fresh water.
• They found wherever there are rocks, shells, or coral to provide a suitable
substratum.
• Most sponges prefer relatively shallow water, but some groups live in deep
water.
Structure of Sponge
• Body wall encloses large cavity called spongocoel.

• Water enters spongocoel through numerous pores
ostia
• Water leaves spongocoel through large aperture
osculam.
• Body wall consists of jelly-like substance called
mesohyl
• Mesohyl sandwiched between two thin layers of cells.
Body Wall Layers
1. The outer layer (epidermis)
a) Pinacocytes (Plate-like cells):
• Cover the exterior and some interior surfaces.
• Digest food particles that are too large to enter
the ostia.
• At the base of the animal are responsible for
anchoring it.
b) Porocytes (Tube-like cells):
• Form closable inlet valves around ostia
• They are contractile and can change the size of
the openings of the ostia
• Controlling the flow of water through the sponge.
Body Wall Layers
2. The inner layer

• Made completely of vase - shaped cells called
choanocytes.
• These cells have a collar of fine fibrils connected by
microvilli
• The collar surrounding the base of a single
flagellum
• Flagellum is used to propel water through the
pores of into a central cavity,
• The collar is used to trap food (bacteria) by
phagocytosis.
Body Wall Layers
3. Mesohyl
•Connective tissue supported by the skeletal elements.
•Contain Archaeocytes move by pseudopodia (Amoebocytes).
•These cells change into another cells to perform their main functions:
1. Pick up food from choanocytes, digest it, carry nutrients to other
cells.
2. Carry oxygen to other cells, and eliminate waste products.
3. Convert into Oocytes & Spermatocytes (for sexual reproduction)
4. They are the basis of some asexual reproductive gemmules.
5. They maintain the structure of the sponge via converting into:
• Spongioblast that secrete the spongin fibers of the skeleton.
• Scleroblast that secrete spicules
• Collencyte that secrete collagenous fibrils.
Water Flow & Sponge Shape
• Most of the canals system are lined with choanocytes to keep the water
flowing through the canals in the correct direction (enters the ostia to
spongocoel and leaves through osculum) by beating their flagellum.
• There are three main types of canal system in sponges that result in
different shapes:
1. Asconoid sponges
2. Syconoid sponges
3. Leuconoid sponges
1. Asconoid shape
• The simplest body structure in sponges.

• The canals run straight from ostia to spongocoel.
• All the spongocoel is lined with choanocytes
• Diameter is seldom exceed 1 mm (limits the size of animal)
• Grow in groups attached to some object in shallow seas.
2. Syconoid sponges
• Slightly complicated by branching canals.

• Water not flow straight in to the spongocoel.
• Body wall is pleated & become thicker (few cm. diameter).
• The spongocoel is not lined with choanocytes only the canals.
• This increase in the number of choanocytes and pumping
• Do not form groups as do asconoid sponges.
3. Leuconoid shape
• More complicated (longer canals & more branched)

• There are no choanocytes in the canals.
• Canals lead to chambers lined by choanocytes.
• No real spongocoel just a central exit leading to osculum.
• Body wall grow in any direction to over 1 m in diameter.
• Water flow slower & makes choanocytes easier to trap food.
• Live in large groups each sponge having its own osculum.
Sponge skeleton
The mesohyl of sponges is stiffened by skeleton of two main components:
1. Spongin Fibers (Protein fibrils) forms a tough fibrous network that Conjunction
with the spicules.
2. Spicules (Crystals) produced from compounds precipitated by scleroblast:
• vary in shape from simple rods to three-dimensional stars with up to six rays
• Spicules are either calcareous (calcium carbonate) or siliceous (silicate salts).
• Serve at least two roles in the sponge:
a) Kind of mesh-work internal skeleton
b) Protective device against predation.
Sponge Classification
Spicules are important in the classification of sponges into three classes:
1. Calcarea (calcareous sponges):
• Have spicules of calcium carbonate that have 1, 3 or 4 rays, without
spongin fibers.
• They found as asconoid, syconoid, or leuconoid.
2. Hexactinellida (glass sponges):
• Have spicules made from silica that are 6 rayed, without spongin fibers
• Found in leuconoid shape only
3. Demospongiae (demosponges):
• Have spicules made from silica with 1, 2, or 4rays joined by meshwork of
spongin fibers.
• Found as leuconoid shape only.
Sponge Feeding
There are several methods of feeding:

1. Phagocytosis (Most marine sponges)
• Large food particles Filtered
by pinacocytes
• Small particles captured by choanocytes
• Archaeocytes transport food packaged
in vesicles from cells that directly digest
food to those that do not
Sponge Feeding
2. Carnivorous sponges (few species)

When the supply of food particles is very poor, so
they prey on crustaceans and other small animals.
Sponge Feeding
3. Endosymbiosis (Freshwater & many marine species)
• Archaeocytes & other cells of sponges host endosymbionts (green algae &
cyanobacteria)
• Benefit from nutrients produced by these photosynthesizing organisms.
Asexual reproduction of Sponge
1. Fragmentation:
• Pieces of sponge are able to regenerate into whole new sponges.
2. Budding:
The buds may remain attached to the parent or separate from it, and each bud
develops into a new individual.
3. Gemmules:
• Freshwater sponges & several marine species, form resistant structures called
gemmules that can withstand adverse conditions such as drying or cold and later
develop into new individuals.
• Gemmules are aggregates of sponge archeocytes and food, covered by a hard
coating containing spicules or spongin fibers.
• When a gemmule germinates, the archeocytes round the outside of the cluster
and transform into other cell types needed to make a functioning sponge.
Sexual Reproduction in Sponge
• Most sponges are hermaphrodites (function as both sexes, the same

individual producing eggs and sperm), but in some species the sexes are
separate.
• Sperms are produced by choanocyte, while Eggs are formed by
transformation of archeocytes, or of choanocytes in some species.
• Fertilized eggs either released into the water or retain until they hatch into
a swimming larvae.
• The larvae are flagellated and swim about freely for a short time and
attaching to a suitable substrate and develop into young sponges.
THANK YOU

Phylum Porifera (Sponges) : Dr. Khalid M. Salih

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Phylum Porifera (Sponges) : Dr. Khalid M. Salih

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Phylum Porifera (Sponges) : Dr. Khalid M. Salih

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Phylum Porifera (Sponges)

Dr. Khalid M. Salih

• Body wall encloses large cavity called spongocoel.

2. The inner layer

• The simplest body structure in sponges.

• Slightly complicated by branching canals.

• More complicated (longer canals & more branched)

There are several methods of feeding:

2. Carnivorous sponges (few species)

• Most sponges are hermaphrodites (function as both sexes, the same

You might also like