![]() ![]() There are a few species, however, that are radially symmetrical. Unlike most animal organisms which exhibit some type of body symmetry, such as radial, bilateral, or spherical symmetry, most sponges are asymmetric, exhibiting no type of symmetry. Since sponges are non-motile, they are typically found attached to rocks or other hard surfaces.Īdapted from work by Philcha/ Wikimedia Commons/CC BY Attribution 3.0 To a lesser degree, some species have been known to feed on small crustaceans, like krill and shrimp. Sponges typically feed on bacteria, algae, and other tiny organisms in water. Water circulating through pores allows for gas exchange as well as food filtration. This is vital as sponges do not have a circulatory system, respiratory system, digestive system, muscular system, or nervous system as do many other animals. Their varied shapes (tube-like, barrel-like, fan-like, cup-like, branched, and irregular shapes) are structured to provide optimal water flow. Some giant sponges can reach heights of seven feet, while the smallest sponges reach heights of only two-thousandths of an inch. ![]() Sponges can be found at various depths in both marine and freshwater habitats and come in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes. This interesting feature allows a sponge to filter food and nutrients from water as it passes through its pores. Sponge parazoans are unique invertebrate animals characterized by porous bodies. ![]()
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