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THESE ARE SPONGES? CLASS CALCAREA- Navigation through Ocean Classification episode 2

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Up above is an example of a Demospongeiae sponge. What does a demosponge consist of?

Structure: Demosponges skeletons are made up of silica spicules. Demosponges have no six-rayed spicules like other Poriferan classes. Like other Poriferan classes, they are asymmetrical. They typically form into lumps or urn shapes. This class has a brightly colored epidermis. For example, colors like orange and yellow as seen in the picture above.

Aquiferous System (1): Leuconoid- folded choanoderm

Reproduction: Sexual- production of larvae(develops from choanocytes). Asexual- gemmulation and budding.

Feeding: Main diet- Organic matter. They are also sessile filter feeders. Choanocytes catch the food and brings it through the pores of the sponge.

Habitat: Marine environment, freshwater

Sources: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Demospongiae/

https://museum.wa.gov.au/research/collections/aquatic-zoology/marine-invertebrates-section/porifera-sponges-class-demospongia#:~:text=The%20demosponges%20comprise%2095%25%20of,silica%20dioxide%20and%2For%20spongin.

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This here is an Calcarea poriferan. Let's dive deeper into this animal.

Let's start with physical characteristics.

Calcareous sponges are typically pale-to-white in their coloring. When shaping, they are diverse.

Structure: They can be tube like or even vase like. When talking about they shape, it's important to note that calcareous sponges are asymmetrical. All sponges have an osculum, an opening at the top of their body where the water exits. This is shown in the picture above, the holes at the top of the tube-like body. The skeleton of calcareous sponges is made up of calcium. This skeleton is supported by spicules.

Aquiferous System(3): Asconoid-Internal cavities lined by choanocytes. Syconoid- folded choanoderm. Leuconoid- choanocytes arranged in "choanocyte chambers".

Reproduction: Sexually and asexual reproduction can occur by the budding process.

Habitat: Coral Reefs

Feeding: Main diet- organic matter , Sessile filter feeders

Sources: https://www.britannica.com/animal/sponge-animal/Natural-history

https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/calcarea-calcareous-sponges

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Demospongiae sponges can only asexually produce.

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This is a Hexactinellida sponge or as some may say "glass" sponge. Let's get into what a "glass" sponge is.

Structure: Glass sponges have upright structures. These structures being radial symmetrical, which is different from the two other Poriferan classes, whose structures are asymmetrical. As shown up above, Hexactinellid sponges can be urn-shaped. When talking about outer appearance, these sponges have little color, as seen in the example. When talking about the interior of these sponges, the Hexactinellid sponge has a cavernous central cavity, where water passes throughout. The skeleton of a Hexactinellid sponge is also made up of silica spicules (six layer), like the Demospongiae.

Feeding: Main diet- Organic matter. They are also sessile filter feeders. Food is carried into the pores of the sponges by collar bodies,(similar to choanocytes). They use specialized cells called syncytia.

Reproduction: Only sexually. Sperm is released from the sponge and water current brings them to an organism that is suitable(has eggs).

Habitat: Marine environment, deep water

Sources:

https://www.marinebio.org/creatures/marine-invertebrates/sponges/#google_vignette

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Hexactinellida/

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Write your answer on a blank sheet of paper and label it, "Class 2 - Hexactinellida Question".

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This is a Scyphozoa jellyfish, better known as "the true jellyfish or true jellies". Let's explore this "true jellyfish".

Structure: True jellies have a radial symmetrical structure. Their bodies are called, Medusa. It's a bell shaped body, that is motile and not sessile like Poriferans. Scyphozoa Cnidarians have hydrostatic skeletons, like other cnidarian classes. This meaning that they move from water pressure. The water pressure through the gastrovascular cavity, enables the cnidarian to move. The body consists of the outer epidermis and the inner gastrodermis.

Reproduction: Sexual-External fertilization (male release sperm and they swim until they enter the central oral cavity of a female, to reach the eggs) Asexual- Budding

Feeding: Main diet- Fish/invertebrates(Carnivore) Food is caught by specialized cells in the tentacles, called nematocysts.

Habitat: Coastal and deep waters

Sources:

http://www.mesa.edu.au/cnidaria/cnidaria03.asp#:~:text=Most%20Scyphozoans%20are%20free%2Dswimming,attached%20to%20the%20ocean%20floor.

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Scyphozoa/#:~:text=Scyphozoans%20exhibit%20the%20main%20characteristics,are%20characteristic%20of%20the%20phylum.

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You may have thought this was a bubble at first sight but it's actually a Hydrozoa Cnidarian. Let's dig deeper into this bubblistic animal!

Structure: Hydrozoans have both a polyp and Medusa life stage, as for many cnidarians. The polyp stage starts from the planulae(larval stage) settling into benthic substrate. From the polyp stage, hydrozoans undergo budding to produce medusae. This cnidarian has a hydrostatic skeleton and it's Medusa moves by jet propulsion. They have an external skeleton. Hydrozoans have a dome-like body and have tentacles that come from it. The polyp and Medusa are both radial symmetric. They come in various colors. Such as purple, white, orange and yellow.

Reproduction: A sessile polyp develops from a fertilized egg, which then under goes budding (asexually) and produces medusae. From there the Medusa produces eggs and sperm and produce sexually.

Feeding: Main diet- organic matter, arthropods and invertebrates. This cnidarian feeds through their gastrovascular cavity. Cells called nematocysts are on their tentacles for defense. Scyphozoans are also filter-feeders as well.

Habitat: Marine habitats- Warm shallow waters

Sources:

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Hydrozoa/#:~:text=Hydrozoans%20vary%20in%20their%20feeding,Some%20consume%20phytoplankton.

https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/cnidaria/hydrozoamm.html#:~:text=A%20fertilized%20egg%20develops%20into,thus%20the%20cycle%20is%20repeated.

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How many stages of life does a Hydrozoan Cnidarian have?

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Spiky, yet gorgeous! This is an example of a Anthozoa Cnidarian. Let's explore this animal!

Structure: Anthozoan consists of polyps, that look similar to flowers. These cnidarians have biradial symmetry. These cnidarians don't have a Medusa life stage, like other cnidarians. The polyp is a tubular shape, with a central mouth, and tentacles around the mouth. The opening serves for both mouth and anus, so they are heterotrophic.

Reproduction: Sexually- Producing gametes (larvae) Asexually- Budding and fragmentation

Feeding: Main diet- Fish (carnivores) They feed from catching food from the nematocysts on their tentacles. They eat through their opening and waste through their opening as well.

Habitat: Warm tropical water

Sources:

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Anthozoa/

https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/General_Biology_(Boundless)/28%3A_Invertebrates/28.02%3A_Phylum_Cnidaria/28.2B%3A_Class_Anthozoa#:~:text=Anthozoans%20remain%20polypoid%20throughout%20their,a%20free%2Dswimming%20planula%20larva.

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Anthozoan Cnidarians have a motile (bell) Medusa body

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This is an example of the Cubozoa Cnidarian. Also known as the box jellyfish. Let's get into what exactly a Cubozoan Cnidarian is!

Structure: This jellyfish has a square bell, (Medusa) and tentacles that are attached to the corner of their bell. Box jellyfish has tetraradiate symmetry. The polyp, changes (metamorphoses) into a single Medusa, (the box shaped bell).

Reproduction: Sexually- External fertilization, releases sperm meets fertilized egg then becomes larvae. Asexually- Budding

Feeding: They are known as predators and powerful swimmers. Main diet- Fish. They catch their prey by the usage of their nematocysts. The manubrium reaches out and takes the prey, then the jellyfish eats it, through their gastrovascular cavity.

Habitat: Tropical and Semitropical waters

Sources:

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cubozoa/

https://study.com/academy/lesson/box-jellyfish-characteristics-types-classification.html#:~:text=Cubozoa%20is%20the%20scientific%20name,swim%2C%20and%20they%20have%20eyes.

https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/cnidaria/cubozoalh.html#:~:text=The%20muscular%20pedalium%20bends%20and,as%20little%20as%20one%20minute.

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Surviving a Box Jellyfish Attack | Something Bit Me!