Activity 16: PHYLUM PORIFERA The Sponges Pre-Lab Discussion
Phylum Porifera
Lowest form of multicellular animals Filter feeders Sessile Free-swimming ciliated larvae Radial or no symmetry Taxonomy is based on: Endoskeletal elements Size Composition of spicules
SKELETAL ELEMENTS
Crystalline spicules Calcareous Siliceous
Spongin fibers
Classes
Calcispongiae – CaCO3 spicules Halospongiae – siliceous Demospongiae – siliceous, spongin, or both Sclerospongiae – siliceous and spongin internally – calcium carbonate externally
CANAL SYSTEMS
Asconoid Syconoid Leuconoid
SPECIMEN:
Leucosolenia – microscopic (w.m.) Grantia – microscopic (l.s.) Euplectella (Venus Flower Basket) Spongia (common bath sponge) Carteriospongia (Elephant’s ear)
Leucosolenia
Euplectella
Carteriospongia
Grantia c.s.
IDENTIFY
Stolon (if present) Osculum Spongocoel Ostium
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