THE UNIVERSITY OF DODOMA
COLLEGE OF NATURAL & MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BI 112- Invertebrate Zoology
PHYLUM PORIFERA
Shayo, A
B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD
The term porifera is derived from
Latin words porus = "pore" and
ferre = "to bear
Thus, poriferans are pore bearing
animals. Poriferans are commonly
called sponges
Sponges are found in virtually all
aquatic habitats, although they are
most common and diverse in the
marine environment
There are over 5,000 modern
species of sponges known
3
Sponges are non-motile
(sessile) animals attached to
some solid support
They are covered with a hard
outer layer or skeleton
Sponges have cellular-level
organization, meaning that their
cells are specialized so that
different cells perform different
functions, but similar cells are
not organized into tissues
Sponge body is a sort of loose
aggregation of different kinds
of cells
Thus, sponges lack the tissue
level of organization but they
do have some specialized cells.
This is the simplest kind of
cellular organization found
among metazoans
5
Sponge cells have ability to
change their form and function
(totipotency)
This together with the
possession of unique flagellated
cells called choanocytes that
line the body cavity and derive
water through a system of
canals and chambers are the
distinguishing characteristics of
sponges
6
Organization of Poriferan
body
The cells of a sponge are
arranged into an inner and
an outer layer
A gelatinous layer also
called mesohyl or
mesenchyme (mesoglea)
separates the two layers.
This layer often makes up
the bulk of the sponge body
The outer unflagellated cells
(single layer) of a sponge
make up the epidermis or
pinacoderm and are called
the pinacocytes
The inner, flagellated cells
make up the gastrodermis or
choanoderm. These cells are
called choanocytes and are
mainly devoted for digestion
7
Organization of Poriferan
body
The epidermis is perforated by small holes
called dermal pores
The gastrodermis lines a large central
cavity
Protein strains called spongin fibres are
manufactured by mesenchyme cells in
some sponges to provide support for the
animal
Other mesenchyme cells in other sponges
secrete spicules which are calcium
carbonate or silica structures, needle like
or many angled which also serve support
8
function
Sponge cells
Since they cannot move, sponges
cannot pursue their food. Instead,
they are filter feeders, meaning they
obtain their food by straining the
water for small bits of food like
bacteria, algae or protozoans
Choanocytes/collar cells are
specialized cells that line pores in a
sponge and have a flagellum that spins
to pull in water and food. The flagella
beat to move water in through the
pores (ostia) and out the osculum
The beating of the choanocytes
flagella creates the sponges water
current which brings it the microscopic
food particles upon which they feed
Food is trapped by the collar cells and
is digested within the collar cells
(intracellular digestion) or is passed to
amoeboid cells for digestion
10
Sponge cells
11
Sponge cells contd:
Amoeboid Cells (Archaeocytes)
Amoeboid cells are specialized cells for
digestion and carrying the food to all
other parts of a sponge's body
Food particles trapped by collar cells may
be passed to amoeboid cells for digestion
and circulation
Amoeboid cells are totipotent which
means they can change form and function.
They can, for example, transform into
other cells like sclerocytes, or
spongocytes.
Amoeboid cells also have a role in sexual
reproduction(In some sponges, archaeocytes develop into 12
gametes)
Sponge cells contd:
Pinacocytes
These cells are the "skin cells" of sponges
They line the exterior of the sponge body
wall. They are thin, leathery and tightly
packed together
Mesenchyme (Mesohyl)
This is a thin space between the two layers
of pinacoderm and gastrodermis. The
mesenchyme consists of a proteinaceous
matrix, some cells, and spicules
13
Sponge cells contd:
Sclerocytes
Secrete spicules
Spongocytes
Secrete the spongin skeletat fibres
Note: Spicules have needle (or rod)-like
structures composed of either calcium
carbonate or silica and offer support and
protection (defense). Spongin is made of a
fibrous protein and provides support and
elasticity
14
Sponge cells contd:
Myocytes and Porocytes
They surround canal openings
and pores
Contract to regulate flow through
the sponge
Sponges do not posses neurons
or discrete sense organs
They can respond to a variety of
environmental stimuli by closing
of the ostia, canal constriction etc
15
16
17
Sponges body plans
Sponges have three different types of body
plans, although these morphologies do not
define taxonomic groups
1. Asconoid sponges: are shaped like a simple
tube perforated by pores. The open internal
part of the tube is called the spongocoel; it
contains the collar cells. There is a single
opening to the outside, the osculum
2. Syconoid sponges: tend to be larger than
asconoids and have a tubular body with a
single osculum. The syconoid body wall is
thicker and the pores that penetrate it are
longer, forming a system of simple canals
3. Leuconoid sponges: are the largest and most
complex sponges. These sponges are
penetrated by numerous canals. Canals lead
to numerous small chambers lined with
18
flagellated cells
Sponge body
plans/types
19
Sponges classification
Sponges are traditionally divided into classes
based on the type of spicules in their
skeleton:
1. Calcarea (Bony)
2. Hexactenellida (Glass)
3. Demospongiae (spongin )
90% of the extant (existing) poriferans
belong to the class Demospongiae. They have
siliceous spicules or spongin fibres or both.
Both freshwater and marine species exist
Sponges in the class Calcarea are considered
to be the most primative group, and have
asconoid, syconoid and leuconoid members
The Hexactinellida and Demospongiae groups
have only leuconoid forms
20
Porifera Classification
Phylum Porifera
Class Calcarea
Class
Demospongiae
Class Hexactinellida
Sclerospongiae is no
longer considered a
class
21
21
Class Calcarea
Have spicules made of
calcium carbonate
Mostly small in size
(<15 cm.), and form
irregular masses
Never contain spongin,
restricted to shallow
water, and strictly
marine
22
Class Demospongiae (Most
sponges)
Have spicules made of
silicon dioxide (SiO2) or
spongin or a combination
of both
Most sponges belong to
this class (90%)
Nearly all are leuconoid body
type
Mostly found on the
continental shelf
Spongia spp. (Bath sponge)
23
Class Hexactinellida
(Glass sponges)
Spicules are made of silica
Usually found in deep water on soft substrates
in the tropics 200-1,000m.
Spicules are six pointed and have a lattice-like
structure
Cup, vase or urn shape
Euplectella (Deep sea Glass sponge)
24
Sponges reproduction
Reproduction for sponges can be accomplished
both sexually and asexually
Sponge reproduce asexually by budding. It can
occur when the parent sponge grows a bud on
the outside of its body. This will either break
away or stay connected.
Some fresh water sponges can reproduce by
creating gemmules (also called internal buds). A
gemule is a group of amebocytes which collect in
the mesohyl and covered by a hard outer
covering (spongin). Gemules are formed when
freshwater supply evaporates and the sponge
become dormant. Gemmules give rise to active
sponge bodies when the freshwater returns. 25
Sponges reproduction
Sponges reproduce sexually by
dispensing sperm into the water
(spawning)
The sperms and eggs arise primarily
from choanocytes. They may as well
arise from amoebocytes.
The sperms travel to another sponge and
fertilize its eggs. Eggs are however not
shed from the body of the sponge. The
sperms have to cross the barrier of the
choanoderm (gastrodermis), enter the
mesohyl and finally fertilize the eggs 26
Sponges reproduction
contd:
The zygote develops into a flagellated
larva after the zygote has been shed into
the water
The larva settles on some solid object
and grows to maturity. Although sponges
are hermaphroditic (both male and
female), they are not self-fertile. Most
sponges are sequential hermaphrodites,
capable of producing eggs or sperm, but
not both at the same time
27
Importance of sponges
1. Remaining spongin fibers after cells are washed
away are collected and sold as bath sponges
2. Sponges produce chemicals that become drugs
for humans or have potential of becoming drugs
e.g. anti-inflammatories, pain killers, antibiotics
3. Important role in cleaning up the ocean floor
Amebocytes in sponges release chemicals that
help break down shells and corals
4. Sponges provide shelter for other aquatic
organisms (live in hollow spaces)
Symbiotic relationships with other organisms
Photosynthetic symbionts provide food and
oxygen to the sponge and remove wastes
28
29
30
