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Sponges

Sponge Videos

Phyla

  • Sponges: Origins

Animation

  • Sponge Animation: Spicules
  • Sponge Animation: Wild Ride Through a Sponge

Behavior

  • Sponges: Time-lapse of Sponge Cells Recombining
  • Sponges: Filter Feeding Made Visible

Scientist

  • Mitchell Sogin, Evolutionary Biologist: Proof of the First Animal
  • Cristina Diaz, Taxonomist: Sponge Biology

General Info

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    Book with pencil

Role in Ecosystem

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    Bee with arrows around it

Climate

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    Thermometer and waves

Human Interaction

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    Human next to globe

Paleontology

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    Skull of dinosaur
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    yellow glass sponge
    Lesson Plan
    Spectacular Simple Sponges
    Students explore unique sponge adaptations through short Shape of Life videos and student-centered activities.

    Full Lesson Plan

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    Komodo Sponge
    Factsheet
    Sponges: The Trailblazers
    Scientists believe sponges are the oldest animal phylum. They first appeared about 600 million years ago.

    Download Factsheet

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    Closeup of orange sponge
    Reading
    Sponges: Animal Eve, Where Do Organisms Come From?
    I'm obsessed with learning where we came from. And what I mean by that is not who your mother and father are, or your grandparents, but rather where do the organisms come from that gave rise to complex animals like us.

    Download Reading