What Kind of Animal Are Sea Sponges?

While the sea sponge may appear to be a plant, it is indeed a member of the animal kingdom. Sea sponges come in a variety of shapes and colors and live on the bottom of the sea in salt water, attaching themselves to something on which they can grow.

Porifera

Sponges belong to a group of animals that scientists classify as Porifera and are among the simplest of animals, lacking tissue and organs.

Size and Shapes

Although the majority of sponges are small, some types can grow as wide as 6 feet. The sea sponge comes in different shapes depending on the species, with some resembling tubes and others looking like barrels.

Function

The design of the sea sponge allows the creature to filter water through the various chambers within it, absorbing any nutrients and allowing the water to carry away waste products.

Types

An encrusting sea sponge is much like moss, covering the surface to which it is attached. The freestanding types of sea sponges typically grow into some odd shapes and have more volume than the encrusting kind.

Colors

Sea sponges come in a great variety of colors, with some being orange, others green and blue and still others yellow or red. The color of the sponge often depends on the species.

References

• Oceanic Research.org: Sponges
• Seasky.org: Sponges and Sea Squirts