Sea sponges are primarily marine invertebrates of the animal phylum Porifera. They are filter feeders typically bound to the seabed as sessile organisms, and are among the most ancient members of the living seabed community, with many species serving as important reef-builders. Some sponge species also inhabit fresh water.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) System (Realm) Living or Extinct Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceMulticellular, with jelly-like mesohyl between two thin cell layers, usually tube-like bodies full of pores and channels 1 Comparison
CITES Appendix Scientific Name Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
In Ecosystem
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Sponge, Wikipedia
Overview, first sentence
Sponges or sea sponges are primarily marine invertebrates of the animal phylum Porifera
Overview section
Sponges are multicellular organisms consisting of jelly-like mesohyl sandwiched between two thin layers of cells, and usually have tube-like bodies full of pores and channels
- In Biome: Freshwater, Wikipedia intro: "munity (macrobenthos), with many species being important reef-builders. Some sponge species inhabit freshwater. Sponges are multicellular organisms consisting o..."
In Ecosystem: Great Barrier Reef, Defenses
Many sponges shed spicules, forming a dense carpet several meters deep that keeps away echinoderms which would otherwise prey on the sponges.
View the Source2. Wikipedia: Sponge
WikipediaWikipedia article, diet descriptionQuote, Wikipedia article, diet description
They are filter feeders that are typically bound to the seabed, being sessile.
3. GBIF Species API
4. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ18960, descriptionView the Source 5. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Animalia
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 23Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 23
"cites_listing":"I/II/III/NC","eu_listing":"A/B/C/D/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":null,"class":null,"order":null,"family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"Animals","language":"EN"},{"name":"Fauna","language":"EN"},{"name":"Animaux","language":"FR"}],"cites_listings":[]
Wikidata: Porifera
- Wikidata Q18960, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
- Child Taxon Of: Animalia, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=preferred, target=Q729 (Animalia)
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