VIII. Sponges : Kingdom Animalia, Phylum
Porifera
Members of the phylum Porifera, the sponges, are aquatic, primarily marine organisms
that possess pores (the name Porifera means pore-bearing). The group consists of
approximately 9000 species. Depending upon species, sponge sizes range from 0.5 – 80
inches tall and colors may be dull tones of gray or white to striking greens, reds, oranges,
purples, yellows, or blues. Shapes can be assymetrical to spherical, cup, fan, or vase
shaped. The following is a summary of other important sponge characteristics:
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most primitive multicellular animals
cells do not form true tissues or organs
are sessile (nonmotile, affixed to substrate)
body architecture displays no definite symmetry
skeleton composed of many, many small spines called spicules
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living sponge cells surround spicules
no true body cavity, although canals and other fluid-filled spaces are present
reproduce sexually or asexually; many hermaphroditic (i.e., individual produces
both sperm and eggs) examples
suspension feeders
planktonic larval stage
no nervous or musculoskeletal (i.e., muscles attached to skeleton) system
some sponges reproduce asexually by forming buds that are released into the
water
VIII.1. Generalized Simple Sponge (note labeled features; arrows indicate flow of
water pumped through the animal for respiratory and filter feeding purposes)
Sponges Featured at the Alaska SeaLife Center
1. Breadcrumb Sponge/Gunpowder Sponge, Halichondria
panicea
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Porifera
Class Desmospongiae
Family Halichondridae
Genus Halichondria
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Reproduction
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Noteworthy Facts
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Arctic to Cape Cod; Bering Sea to
southern California
low tide line to waters over 200 feet deep
greenish to yellowish encrusting sponge
shape irregular to globular surface rough
firm texture
incurrent pore openings small and
numerous
large excurrent openings large and few
a few green specimens have symbiotic
zoochlorellae (photosynthetic, symbiotic
algae) living in their tissues; these
provide additional nutrients
asexual bud formation
name reflects irregular shape of the
encrusting colony
though often occurring affixed to stones,
this species can also foul pilings and
floating docks
2. Hermit Crab Sponge, Suberites suberea
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Porifera
Class Desmospongiae
Order Hadromerida
Family Suberitidae
Genus Suberites
Occurrence
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Bering Sea to southern California; North
Atlantic
intertidal to 115 feet deep
living sponge is bright orange
form is massive to sub-hemispherical
1.5 to 4 inch diameter
consistency is firm to slightly
compressible
surface is smooth with many depressions
of variable size
asexual bud formation
preyed upon by the nudibranch
Archidoris montereyensis
often live affixed to gastropod shells
utilized by a hermit crab
3. Yellow Boring Sponge, Cliona celata
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Porifera
Class Desmospongiae
Order Hadromerida
Family Clionidae
Genus Cliona
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Alaska to Mexico
intertidal to 65 feet deep
living sponge is bright yellow
lacks definite shape and size
minute excurrent openings
smooth, irregular surface is covered by
rounded papillae whose bases are
surrounded by a conspicuous groove
excavates tunnels in material made of
calcium carbonate (such as shells of
living or dead snails, clams, barnacles,
scallops, etc.)
asexual bud formation
often found growing on scallop shells,
which are gradually worn away by this
sponge; slows growth of organism into
which it bores and may ultimately kill
that organism
a problem species in eastern North
American oyster beds