Surprising Facts About Sea Sponges That You May Not Know

Elmira | 01 - 08 - 2022
Sea sponges

Surprising Facts About Sea Sponges:

Sea sponges are one of the world’s simplest animals, found in the ocean. Sea sponges have no tails, eyes, or heads. The body is full of tiny holes which are called pores. By pumping water, sponges feed with the help of their pores. They filter out tiny particles of food. To simply put, sponges are elegant aquatic animals featuring dense, porous, skeletons. They are known for adapting to their environments. Read our complete blog to improve your knowledge on sea Sponges facts. You can share these true facts about sea sponges with friends and family.

Is Sea Sponge a Plant or Is It an Animal?

It is a common misbelief that sea sponges are plants. They are multi-celled animals. As said earlier, sponges have no brain or a central nervous system. Like other animals, they don’t have organs or tissue. They have unique cells which help perform necessary functions. A few cells manage digestion and others help bring and filter water so that they can feed. Sponges are categorized as invertebrates, which means they don’t have backbones. Sponges come in various hues, sizes, and shapes. They have the capability of living for a longer period. Some types of sponges are known to be living more than 200 years.

What Is the Scientific Name of Sponge?
  • A. Lobelia cardinalis
  • B. Lilium canadense
  • C. Porifera
  • D. None of the Above

From polar to tropical regions, sponges can be found almost everywhere in the world. Sponges can live in deep waters and freshwaters.

Sea Sponges Facts You Didn’t Know About 

  • The phylum Porifera can be classified into five classes that include Calcarea (Calcareous sponges), Demospongiae (Horny sponges), Hexactinellida (Glass sponges), and Homoscleromorpha.
  • The largest sponge was discovered in Hawaii in 2015. It hasn’t got any name.
  • According to the early fossil records, sponges inhabited our planet about 600 million years ago.
  • Did you know? Certain sponges can live more than 200 years.
  • Spongers are known as master filters as they have the ability to filter large amounts of water. It is believed that a basketball-sized sponge can filter the entire residential pool in one day.
  • Their skeleton is formed from spicules which are glass-like materials.
  • Most sponges feed on tiny organisms that come in the water. They hardly move and filter lots of water for food and oxygen.
  • Sponges are categorized as multicellular organisms. 
  • Around 5000 pieces of sea sponges are there in the world.
  • Some sponges can live in freshwater rivers and lakes.
  • The tiniest sea sponges are 1 inch long. Meanwhile, the largest sponges are more than 4 feet tall.
  • Sponges don’t have legs, heads, eyes, brains, ears, muscles, nerves, or organs. Sea sponges have predators other than sea turtles and fish as they can generate toxins.

Read Next