What is the scientific name of the sponge commonly found in the Philippines that belongs to the family Thorectidae?
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Hyrtios erecta.
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What is the scientific name of the sponge commonly found in the Philippines that belongs to the family Thorectidae?
Hyrtios erecta.
What is the habitat depth range for Hyrtios erecta?
9 to 13 meters.
What is the texture of Hyrtios erecta?
Compressible and somewhat difficult to tear.
What color variations can Hyrtios erecta exhibit?
Brown to black ectosome; light to dark brown endosome.
What are the three types of sponges classified in Phylum Porifera?
Ascon, Sycon, and Leucon.
Which sponge is often referred to as the 'yellow sponge' due to its color?
Spongia zimocca.
What is sponge dermatitis?
An allergic reaction that occurs 5 minutes to 2 hours after sponge contact, usually seen on the hand, with symptoms lasting 3 to 7 days without treatment.
What characterizes Ascon sponges?
They are the simplest sponges with thin walls and short canals.
What is the form of Spongia zimocca?
Massive, 70 mm high x 82 mm wide.
What are the symptoms of contact dermatitis caused by sponges?
Burning, stinging, itching, pain, inflammation, redness, joint pain, and swelling.
How do Porifera ingest food and oxygen?
Through their pores (ostia) where water enters and the osculum where water is pumped out.
What does the term 'Porifera' mean?
It translates to 'pore bearers', highlighting their distinctive feature of possessing a pore-bearing body.
What are Sycon sponges known for?
They are intermediate sponges with folds (incurrent canals).
What type of substrates does Haliclona cymiformis inhabit?
Hard substrates in intertidal muddy areas.
Which sponge species can cause contact dermatitis?
Red-beard sponge (Micronia prolifera), fire sponge (Tedania ignis), and poison-bun sponge (Fibula nolitangere).
What type of digestion do Porifera perform?
Intracellular digestion, as they lack a gut and internal organs.
How many species are approximately found in Phylum Porifera?
About 5000 species.
What distinguishes Leucon sponges?
They are complex sponges with thick walls and many complex canals.
What is the scientific name of the sponge species commonly known as Spheciospongia vagabunda?
Spheciospongia vagabunda (Ridley, 1884).
What is the texture of Haliclona cymiformis?
Firm, incompressible, tough, and somewhat difficult to tear.
What is irritant dermatitis?
A reaction caused by sponge spicules of calcium carbonate or silica, requiring treatment, with symptoms like fever, chills, nausea, malaise, muscle cramps, and dizziness.
What is the primary feeding mechanism of Porifera?
They are primarily filter feeders, capturing food particles suspended in water.
What type of lifestyle do adult sponges exhibit?
A sessile lifestyle, being non-motile and attached to a substratum.
How do sponges reproduce sexually?
Through spawning, where sperm is secreted into water and captured by another sponge.
What order does Spheciospongia vagabunda belong to?
Hadromerida.
What color does Haliclona cymiformis exhibit in life?
Green to greenish-brown.
What is anaphylaxis in relation to sponges?
An allergic reaction that affects airways, potentially leading to swelling and closure, and can occur in individuals with severe allergies to marine organisms.
What unique feeding behavior do some sea sponges exhibit?
They are carnivores and feed on other organisms.
What type of cells compose sponges?
Eukaryotic cells.
What role do Archaeocytes play in sponge reproduction?
They help transfer sperm to the egg for fertilization.
What is the habitat depth for Spheciospongia vagabunda?
6 meters.
What respiratory issues can arise from sponge handling?
Respiratory irritation from inhalation of fine sponge particles and potential occupational lung diseases from prolonged exposure to airborne particles.
What are the four living classes of Phylum Porifera?
Calcarea, Hexactinellida, Demospongiae, and Homoscleromorpha.
What reproductive strategy do sponges exhibit?
They are hermaphroditic, possessing both male and female reproductive organs.
What is the outcome of fertilization in sponges?
The zygote develops into ciliated larvae that are released into the water.
Where is Spheciospongia vagabunda distributed?
Indonesia, Fiji Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines.
What is the scientific classification of sponges?
Domain: Eukarya, Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Porifera.
What characterizes the skeleton of Calcarea sponges?
It is composed of calcareous spicules made of calcium carbonate.
What is the primary feeding mechanism of sponges?
Filter-feeding, using a holozoic mode of nutrition.
What is budding in sponge reproduction?
An outgrowth from the sponge body that can develop into an adult individual.
What is the shape of Chalinula nematifera?
Massive or irregularly lobed.
What is unique about Hexactinellida sponges?
Their skeleton is made up of six-rayed siliceous spicules.
What structures do sponges lack?
Typical organs such as heads, eyes, brain, arms, legs, and specialized body parts.
What is fragmentation in sponge reproduction?
A process where parts of the sponge body are thrown off and can develop into new individuals.
What type of habitat does Chalinula nematifera prefer?
Coral reefs, often attached to hard substrates or within crevices.
What materials make up the skeleton of Demospongiae?
Spongin fibers and siliceous spicules, which can be monoaxon and triaxon.
What is the shape of simple sponges?
They are typically hollow cylinders with a large opening at the top.
What are gemmules in sponges?
Tiny survival pods produced under unfavorable conditions that can remain dormant.
What medical conditions can be associated with contact with sponges?
Irritation and dermatitis, especially from species containing crinitoxins.
What is the habitat preference of Porifera?
They are found in both freshwater and saltwater environments, predominantly in saltwater.
What materials compose the skeleton of sponges?
Interlocking spicules of calcium carbonate, silica, or spongin.
What can sponges harbor that may cause infections?
Various microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and protozoa.
What are Archaeocyatha known for?
Their massive, double-walled, calcareous skeletons that are vase-like in shape.
What type of symmetry do most sponges exhibit?
Most sponges do not have symmetry, but some exhibit radial symmetry.
What symptoms can result from ingestion or prolonged skin contact with certain sponges?
Nausea, vomiting, or dermatitis.
What role did Stromatoporoidea play in ancient ecosystems?
They were primary reef-building organisms.
What is the primary purpose of harmful secondary metabolites released by sponges?
To protect themselves from predators.
Where do most sponges live?
In the ocean, although some, like Spongillidae, are found in freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams.
What is the depth range in which sponges thrive in the ocean?
Between 250 and 1300 meters.
What is the mesohyl in sponges?
A gel-like, flexible matrix located between the inner and outer layers of the sponge, containing various cells.
What is the function of the spongocoel?
It is the central cavity within the sponge where water flows through, aiding in filtering and waste expulsion.
What are ostia in sponges?
Tiny openings on the sponge's surface that allow water to enter from the surrounding environment.
What is the role of choanocytes?
They line the inner chambers and spongocoel, creating water flow and capturing food particles.
What do pinacocytes do?
They cover the outer surface and line the internal chambers, providing structural support and regulating water flow.
What are the functions of amoebocytes?
They are mobile cells that function in nutrient distribution, waste removal, and the formation of spongin and spicules.
What do sclerocytes produce?
They are responsible for producing spicules, contributing to the sponge's structural support and defense.
What is the function of porocytes?
They are specialized cells that form the ostia and regulate water flow into the sponge by controlling the size of these pores.
