Questions and Answers
What are sponges classified as?
animals
Do sponges have tissues?
False
Are sponges the most primitive animal?
True
Are sponges multicellular?
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Do sponges possess differentiated cells?
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What makes sponges different from kelp?
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What makes a sponge an animal?
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What is the function of pinacocytes?
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What is the function of choanocytes?
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What is the function of amoebocytes?
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What is the function of sclerocytes?
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What is the function of porocytes?
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What are spicules?
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What are the three skeleton compositions of sponges?
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What is the large opening at the top of the sponge called?
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What is the series of interconnected passages inside of the inner cavity of the sponge called?
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What is the sessile anchor of the sponge called?
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Where does incurrent water pass through the sponge first?
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Where is food filtered in the sponge?
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Where is the excurrent water pushed out of the sponge?
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Which filtering mechanism is the simplest?
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Which cell type is responsible for regeneration and asexual reproduction in the sponge?
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What is the inner region of the sponge, sandwiched between layers of pinacocytes called?
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What property of sponges allows them to be sustainably farmed?
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Study Notes
Sponge Classification and Characteristics
- Sponges are classified as animals.
- They are considered the most primitive type of animal.
- Sponges exhibit multicellularity and possess differentiated cells.
Unique Features
- Unlike kelp, sponges have differentiated cells.
- Sponges have the following key characteristics:
- Multicellularity
- Heterotrophy (obtaining food from other organisms)
- Sexual reproduction
- Absence of a cell wall
- Motility
- Ability to respond to stimuli
Cellular Functions
- Pinacocytes: Form the body wall of the sponge.
- Choanocytes: Responsible for water pumping and filtering.
- Amoebocytes: Undifferentiated cells that transport materials within the sponge; involved in regeneration and asexual reproduction.
- Sclerocytes: Secrete spicules, which contribute to the sponge’s structure.
- Porocytes: Contractile cells that line openings in the body wall.
Structure and Composition
- Spicules: Serve as the skeletal structure of sponges; can be elastic, glass, or stone.
- Osculum: The large opening at the top of the sponge through which water exits.
- Spongocoel: The inner cavity of the sponge, consisting of interconnected passages.
- Holdfast: The sessile anchor that attaches the sponge to a surface.
- Mesohyl: The inner region sandwiched between the layers of pinacocytes.
Water Flow and Feeding
- Incurrent water enters through the sides of the body wall.
- Food is filtered in the spongocoel.
- Excurrent water is pushed out through the osculum.
Filtering Mechanisms
- The simplest filtering mechanism among sponges is the asconoid type.
Sustainability
- The property of regeneration in sponges allows them to be sustainably farmed.
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Test your knowledge of sponges with these flashcards! Learn about their classification, tissue structure, and cellular organization. Ideal for students studying marine biology or animal classification.
