If you were to put a 'live' sponge in a blender and blend it up and put the blended up sponge back in the sea, they would come together to form a new sponge. If a sponge is broken up into tiny pieces the pieces will grow into clones of the parent sponge with exactly the same DNA as its parent's DNA. Question: Can a cut up sponge grow again?Īnswer: Some sponges are able to regenerate themselves, from even the smallest root left after harvesting. Sponges are only able to produce eggs after three years. The larva uses tiny hairs to propel itself through the water and eventually attach itself to a solid object to grow into an adult sponge. Fertilisation of eggs takes place inside the sponge. When sperm is released and floating in the water it is caught by another sponge's collar cells. In most species fertilisation is internal. Question: How do natural sea sponges reproduce?Īnswer: During reproduction each adult can act as either the female or the male. It is these deep pores that enable a sponge to hold such a tremendous amount of water. The flowing water also carries out waste products. They filter tiny organisms and plankton for food and nutrients from the water. Question: How do natural sea sponges live and grow under the sea?Īnswer: A sponge has thousands of pores which let the water flow through it continually. They attach themselves permanently to something solid and move sea water through their bodies. Question: How do natural sea sponges grow in the sea?Īnswer: Sea sponges live on the ocean floor. Question: What is the scientific name for natural sea sponges?Īnswer: The scientific name for sponges is Porifera.

With the exception of the single - celled animals, the Protozoa, sponges are the simplest animals in existence today.

A sponge does not have a brain or a central nervous system in fact sponges have no heart, brain, head, mouth or any other body parts and have many plant like qualities.

Until 1765, sponges were considered as plants, but naturalist John Ellis proved they were actually animals. Question: Are Sponges classed as animals or plants?Īnswer: Natural Sponges are classed as animals.

How does water move through sponge