How many species of Homoscleromorpha are there?
The latter group, Homoscleromorpha, contains about 78 species and is subdivided into two families: Plakinidae and Oscarellidae [1], [6].
What characteristic of the Homoscleromorpha might link this group of sponges to the Eumetazoa?
The Homoscleromorpha is not a subclass of the Demospongiae; this group of sponges shares several characteristics with the Eumetazoa (Ereskovsky, 2004). Homoscleromorphs are characterized by the fact that the spicules may branch, and the aquiferous system is sylleibid or leuconoid (Fig.
Do Homoscleromorpha sponges have Spongin?
They contain no spongin. Hemoscleromorpha sponges tend to be massive or encrusting in form and have a very simple structure with very little variation in spicule form (all spicules tend to be very small).
How do Demosponges eat?
All sponges are filter feeders, subsisting on bacteria and other small organisms. Water bearing these food particles enters through outer pores. Choanocytes capture most of the food; however pinocytes and amoebocytes can also digest food. Food particles may also be digested directly by cells of the mesohyl.
Where are Homoscleromorpha found?
Habitat. Homoscleromorpha are exclusively marine sponges that tend to encrust on other surfaces at shallow depths. These sponges typically inhabit shady locations, under overhangs and inside caves. In the Mediterranean Sea, 82% of the species in this taxon can be found in caves, and 41% of them are found nowhere else.
What is Homoscleromorpha made of?
Homosclerophorida is an order of marine sponges. It is the only order in the monotypic class Homoscleromorpha. The order is composed of two families: Plakinidae and Oscarellidae.
What is the basis for elevating the Homoscleromorpha from order to class?
Morphology, anatomy cytology, symbionts, and enzyme electrophoresis
| . | Blue | Green |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | — | 0.96 |
| Green | 0.05 | — |
| Yellow | 0.03 | 0 |
| Violet | 1.36 | 1.41 |
What is the function of Spongin?
Spongin, a modified type of collagen protein, forms the fibrous skeleton of most organisms among the phylum Porifera, the sponges. It is secreted by sponge cells known as spongocytes. Spongin gives a sponge its flexibility.
What is the purpose of Ostia in phylum Porifera?
Answer: Ostia are tiny pores present all over the body of sponges. its function is to let the water, along with desire nutrient flows interior of the sponges. Osculum is a excretory structure opening to the outside through which current of water exist after passing through the spongocoel.
Are sea sponges alive?
Sea sponges are one of the world’s simplest multi-cellular living organisms. Yes, sea sponges are considered animals not plants. But they grow, reproduce and survive much as plants do. Sea sponges are one of the world’s simplest multi-cellular living organisms.
How do Porifera feed?
Sponges have a unique feeding system among animals. Instead of a mouths they have tiny pores (ostia) in their outer walls through which water is drawn. Cells in the sponge walls filter food from the water as the water is pumped through the body and the osculum (“little mouth”).