The sponge classes are the three groups that make up the phylum Porifera, whose roughly 5,000 living species are split among the Hexactinellida or glass sponges, the Demospongia, and the Calcarea or calcareous sponges. Sponges have no mouths and instead draw water through tiny pores in their outer walls, where cells in the walls filter food as flagella drive a one-way flow through chambers and canals. Fossil sponges are among the oldest known animal fossils, dating from the Late Precambrian, and the number of described fossil genera exceeds 900.
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UC Museum of Paleontology: Introduction to Porifera
UC Museum of PaleontologyIntroduction to PoriferaQuote, Introduction to Porifera
The approximately 5,000 living sponge species are classified in the phylum Porifera
Wikipedia: Demosponge
Has Member: Demospongiae, LeadQuote, Has Member: Demospongiae, Lead
Demosponges or common sponges are sponges of the class Demospongiae (from Ancient Greek: δῆμος, romanized: dêmos, lit.
Wikipedia: Calcareous sponge
WikipediaHas Member: Calcarea, LeadQuote, Has Member: Calcarea, Lead
The calcareous sponges or calcereans are sponges that make up the class Calcarea, characterized by spicules made of calcium carbonate in the form of high-magnesium calcite or aragonite.
Wikipedia: Hexactinellid
Has Member: Hexactinellida, LeadQuote, Has Member: Hexactinellida, Lead
Hexactinellid sponges are sponges with a skeleton made of four- and/or six-pointed siliceous spicules, often referred to as glass sponges.
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