Species Profile
Xestospongia
Giant barrel sponge
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumPorifera
ClassDemospongiae
OrderUnknown
FamilyUnknown
Introduction
Xestospongia inhabits coral reefs.
Sessile and filter-feeding.
One of the largest sponges.
Size & Structure
01
Large barrel-shaped body
02
Thick walls
03
Brown or reddish
04
Wide osculum
Xestospongia — 3D Model
General Features
- Coelom
- Acoelomate
- Body plan
- Cell aggregate body plan
- Germ layer
- Diploblastic (cellular grade)
- Metamerism
- Absent
- Body symmetry
- Asymmetrical
- Fertilization
- Internal
- Digestion type
- Intracellular
- Nervous system
- Absent
- Excretory organ
- Absent
- Body temperature
- Poikilothermic, stenohaline
- Circulatory type
- Type-I (absent)
- Development type
- Indirect
- Respiratory type
- Diffusion
- Mode of excretion
- Ammonotelism
- Circulation system
- Water canal system
- Skeleton structure
- Endoskeleton (spongin + siliceous spicules)
- Level of Organisation
- Cellular level
- Regulation of Osmosis
- Osmoconformer
Ecology
Filters huge water volume
Reef habitat provider
Nutrient cycling
Economic Importance
Reef tourism interest
Research on longevity
Conservation importance