Porifera
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Porifera is a phylum of the kingdom Animala. The name translates to "pore-bearing." Porifera is the first animal phylum ever to exist and evolve on Earth. This phylum consists of only sponges, making sponges the first animals. Most sponges are filter feeders, however there are a few species that are actually carnivorous, and are unable to filter food. These sponges use hooks or threads to capture their prey. Sponges mostly reside in shallow ocean waters, but there are some that live in lakes and streams, and some that live in the deep sea. Although Porifera consists of only sponges, there are still four classes that differentiate them. Demospongiae is the largest class, making up 90% of sponges. Hexactinellida consists of glass sponges, a rarer type of sponge. Calcarea are sponges found in shallow waters that have skeletons made of Calicum Carbonate. Finally, the rarest class is Homoscleromorpha. These sponges have smaller skeletons, but are larger in size. Since sponges cannot move, they are more susceptible to being eaten by predators. Some predators and prey of Porifera are:

  • Fish (predators)
  • Sea Turtles (predators)
  • Small Crustaceans (prey)
  • Bacteria (prey)
  • Micro-organisms (prey)
  • Pufferfish (predators)
  • Sea Slugs (predators)
  • Plankton (prey)
  • Spongeflies(predators)
  • Hawksbill Turtle (Eats specifically sponges)
  • Viruses (prey)

Porifera species and classes:

  • Giant Barrel Sponge (Demospongiae)
  • Venus' Flower Basket (Hexactinellida)
  • Spongilla Lacustris (Demospongiae)
  • Mermaid's Glove (Demospongiae)
  • Bath Sponge (Demospongiae)
  • Red Encrusting Sponge (Demospongiae)
  • Stove-pipe Sponge (Demospongiae)
  • Yellow Tube Sponge (Demospongiae)
  • Boring Sponge (Demospongiae)
  • Crumpled Duster Sponge (Demospongiae)
  • Golf Ball Sponge (Demospongiae)
  • Red Beard Sponge (Demospongiae)
  • Oscarella Lobularis (Homosclerophorida)
  • Oscarella Tuberculata (Homosclerophorida)
  • Agelas Dispar (Demospongiae)
  • Spongilla Lacustris (Demospongiae)
  • Heavenly Sponge (Demospongiae)
  • Orange Elephant Ear Sponge (Demospongiae)
  • Loggerhead Sponge (Demospongiae)
  • White Encrusting Sponge (Demospongiae)
  • Fig Sponge (Demospongiae)
  • Crumb of Bread Sponge (Demospongiae)
  • Yellow Sun Sponge (Demospongiae)