Phylum Porifera

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Phylum Porifera

• Finally, the first animal phylum!!!

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What do you think of

• When you hear the word sponge?

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Sponge the animal can look like this
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Sponges are placed in their own phylum for two
major reasons.

• Their body is covered with numerous holes which
  are called pores.
• They lack true tissue that is found in other
  animals.

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Sowhat is there to know about a sponge?

• Sponges are sessile.
• They are filter feeders.
• They are typically found in shallow, warm waters
  among coral.

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What are they made out of?

• The sponge is supported by structures called
  spicules.
• The spicules are covered by a jellylike material.
• Four different cells are attached to the material.

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How does it feed?

• Wellwe mentioned it was a filter feeder.
• The sponge uses special cells called choanocytes
  to bring in water and catch the food.

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How does it feed?
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Why are sponges important?

• Sponges are good indicators of clean, healthy
  water and a healthy ecosystem. They are very
  sensitive to pollution.
• Sponges also provide homes for many other sea
  animals.

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Why are sponges importantto us?

• Real sponges used to be used for everything that
  we now use synthetic sponges for like washing
  and cleaning.
• Natural sponges are still sold.

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Interesting Sponge Fact

• Sponges have the ability to recognize other
  sponge cells.
• Why is this interesting?
• Because you can pass a living sponge through a
  silk mesh (separates it into individual cells).
• When you put the individual cells back together
  it reforms into a sponge!!!

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Sponges are colorful animals.
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Any Questions???