TeaNatural Sea Sponges
Natural sea sponges are nothing but animals of the phylum porifera. The natural sea sponges do not have a nervous, digestive or circulatory systems. Instead most of these natural sea sponges rely on the constant water flow through them to obtain food and oxygen and to remove wastes, and the shapes of their bodies are adapted to maximize the efficiency of the water flow.
All are sessile aquatic animals and, although there are freshwater species, the great majority are marine (salt water) species, ranging from tidal zones to depths exceeding 8,800 metres (5.5 mi).Ò There are about 9,000 known species of sponges that feed on bacteria and other food particles in the water, some often produce more food and oxygen than they consume. A few species of sponge that live in food starved environments have become carnivores and their main diet is crustaceans.
Sponges have the capability of regenerating from fragments that may have broken off. When the conditions for breeding are not right, for example if the water temperature drops then the cells remain dormant until conditions improve and then either form transforms into a completely new sponges or re-colonize the skeletons of their parents.
In viviparous species the cells that capture most of the adults" food capture the sperm cells but, instead of digesting them, transport them to ova in the parent"s mesohyl. In oviparous species both sperm and egg cells are released into the water and fertilisation and development take place outside the parent"s bodies.
Natural sea sponges come in all shapes and sizes with various textures and colors. People have different requirement of sponges some for bath and some for cleaning etc. One must keep in mind the texture, size and the density of the sponge as per its usage. These sponges are highly absorbent and have been helpful in more than one way.
Natural sea sponges can be found worldwide right from the Polar Regions to the clear waters. In tropical waters you will not find sea sponges as the tropical waters contain within them more organisms that prey on natural sea sponges.