critterscience
The Forgotten Sponge
The sponge has been around for an awfully long time; 600 million years! That is since the Precambrian period of our planet's history. With approximately 8,550 different described species of sponge, there are a lot to pick from. Found from shallow water to 3.1 miles deep and in saltwater and freshwater systems, these critters are specialized and diverse animals that are often overlooked. These critters deserve more credit than they get.
First the Stats...
Scientific name: Porifera
Weight: Up to 20 lbs.
Length: Up to 6 feet
Lifespan: Up to 5,000+ years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) Sponges act as a kind of gill, in that they filter the surrounding water and extract plankton and other nutrients to feed itself.
2.) The sponge is the simplest known multicellular organism.
3.) Their various colorations are to help protect them from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light.
4.) Even though they are classified as animals, they lack a head, eyes, brain, nerves, legs, arms, ears, muscles, or even organs.
5.) The only known predators of sponges are some species of fish, some sea turtles, and some invertebrates.
But wait, there's more on the sponge!
6.) In the nutrient-depleted coral reefs, there are certain sponges which are thought to make carbon biologically and readily available by excreting a form of feces (poop) that other organisms rely on to survive. Living on sponge poop. There's a thing you can't unlearn.
7.)
The Forgotten Sponge
The sponge has been around for an awfully long time; 600 million years! That is since the Precambrian period of our planet's history. With approximately 8,550 different described species of sponge, there are a lot to pick from. Found from shallow water to 3.1 miles deep and in saltwater and freshwater systems, these critters are specialized and diverse animals that are often overlooked. These critters deserve more credit than they get.
First the Stats...
Scientific name: Porifera
Weight: Up to 20 lbs.
Length: Up to 6 feet
Lifespan: Up to 5,000+ years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) Sponges act as a kind of gill, in that they filter the surrounding water and extract plankton and other nutrients to feed itself.
2.) The sponge is the simplest known multicellular organism.
3.) Their various colorations are to help protect them from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light.
4.) Even though they are classified as animals, they lack a head, eyes, brain, nerves, legs, arms, ears, muscles, or even organs.
5.) The only known predators of sponges are some species of fish, some sea turtles, and some invertebrates.
But wait, there's more on the sponge!
6.) In the nutrient-depleted coral reefs, there are certain sponges which are thought to make carbon biologically and readily available by excreting a form of feces (poop) that other organisms rely on to survive. Living on sponge poop. There's a thing you can't unlearn.
7.)