FAQs

1) Define Porifera?

Ans- Poriferans are commonly referred to as sponges. The surface of the

sponge is perforated by millions of minute pores through which the water
current, bringing food and oxygen, enters the sponge body. Therefore,
porifera (L., Porous, pore; ferre, to bear), the name is given to this phylum by
Robert E. Grant, in 1836, means “pore-bearers”, and refers to the porous
structure of the body with numerous surface opening.

2) Write about some common features of sponges.

Ans- These are Sedentary, aquatic animals, mostly marine, solitary or colonial
multi- celluar organisms
3) Illustrate the asexual reproduction of sponges.
Ans- Asexual reproduction takes place by budding or by specialized cells called
gemmules. Gemmules develop into new sponges during favourable conditions.

4) Write some examples of calcarious sponges.

Ans- The calcarious sponges are –Sycon, Leucosolenia, Clathrina, Scypha etc.

5) What is Grantina?
Ans- Scypha, formerly called Sycon or Grantina.

6) Mention some morphological characteristics of Scypha.

Ans- It is solitary or colonial marine sponge found attached to the rocks in shallow
waters. The body of the sponge is covered externally by a thin dermal epithelium
or ectoderm. The surface of the sponges appeared smooth on the naked eye. It is
vase-shaped cylindrical, body measuring about 15 to 30 mm in length.
7) Add a note on skeleton of sponges.
 Ans- Skeleton of sponges consists of calcareous spicules. It varies monaxon,
triaxon and tetraxon type.
8) Write about the water vascular system of Sycon.
Ans-In Sycon, Water enters the body via ostia and enters the incurrent
canals from where it passes into radial canals through prosopyles. From radial
canals, water enters the excurrent canal through apopyles. Then ,Water
reaches to spongocoel through the gastral ostia and passes out by osculum.
9) State some examples of glass sponges.

Ans- The glass sponges are -Euplectella, Hyalonema etc.

10) Write about Hyalonema

Ans- Hyalonema is a marine form found 10-15 meters deep in sea in some
localities and is about 40 cm long. Body is variable in shape but usually
rounded or oval and radially symmetrical. Apparently it looks like a ball of
glass wool with projecting tufts of glassy spicules. Small branching and 5-rayed
spicules extend from all over the body. Besides 6-rayed spicules, large and
small amphidiscs, like those of freshwater sponges, are also formed.