The Mysterious World of Sponges Quiz

What appeared about 3 and A2 billion years ago, marking a completely new phase in the Earth's history?

• Plants

• Animals

• Fungi

• Single-celled organisms

What is the ancient creature that scientists believe links us to the first animals of Earth?

• Jellyfish

• Sponge

• Starfish

• Coral

How many different species of sponges have scientists described?

• Over 7,000

• Over 5,000

• Over 11,000

• Over 9,000

What protein forms the supportive system for the sponge body?

• Keratin

• Fibrin

• Collagen (spongin)

• Elastin

What microscopic structures help give a sponge its rigidity and form?

• Spicules

• Villi

• Cilia

• Flagella

How does a sponge feed itself?

• By hunting prey

• By filtering food particles from the water

• By absorbing nutrients from the water

• By photosynthesis

What is the purpose of injecting a colored dye into the water near the body of a sponge?

• To mark the territory

• To measure the speed of water flow through the sponge

• To test the water quality

• To attract other sponges

What is the function of Coanocytes cells in a sponge?

• Digestion

• Sensory perception

• Pumping water through the sponge

• Reproduction

What was the very first animal to reproduce sexually?

• Sponge

• Jellyfish

• Coral

• Starfish

What does the intimate tour of the sponge reveal about its nature?

• It is a plant-like organism

• It is a complex living animal

• It is a non-living entity

• It is a simple aggregation of cells