However, they avoid areas where strong currents or crashing waves would disturb them. You can find these creatures in just about any aquatic habitat.

The vast majority live in saltwater habitats, though a handful inhabit brackish water and freshwater. Sponges inhabit a wide variety of different ecosystems. The bacteria feed on methane produced by holes in the seafloor, and the sponges feed on some of the bacteria. One interesting relationship is between the sponge and a deep-sea bacteria.

Coordination – These creatures have symbiotic relationships with some other creatures.

In asexual reproduction, a new organism is formed without combining the genetics of two different animals. New sponges can form both sexually and asexually.

These odd animals reproduce in several different fashions.

Strange Sex – When you never move, reproduction can be a tad tricky.

As sessile organisms, once they have established themselves, they anchor to whatever substrate they have landed on.

Sessile – Once they have found a suitable home, sponges plant themselves in place and do not move.

The other kingdoms include Plantae (the plants) and Fungi (the fungus).

Animals Indeed – When you look at a sponge, you don’t think “animal.” However, place these creatures in the kingdom Animalia.

Learn more about what makes sponges so interesting, below.

These creatures are incredibly odd and unique animals. Inside, they have microscopic hairs, or flagella, which wiggle to push the water through their bodies. All sponges have tiny pores where they intake water. Some have many branches or odd shapes, while others have a simple cylindrical shape.

An immensely wide variety of shapes and sizes exist. These odd creatures vary drastically in appearance.

Do sponges move?