Question

Commercial “bath sponges” are called as:

A. Euspongia

B. Spongilla

C. Euplectella

D. Cliona

Answer 1

Hint: A commercially valuable marine sponge that is situated in the Mediterranean Sea is known as “bath sponge”. It is typically found in shallow water adhering to the substratum.

Complete Solution:

Euspongia is a commercially used sponge, commonly referred to as a "bath sponge”. It is a hermaphrodite species that can reproduce asexually by budding or sex.

In fresh water, lakes and sluggish streams, Spongilla is found. They can be unbranched and contain a number of Ostia all over its surface. The color varies between light yellow and green. It is commonly known as “freshwater sponge”.

Euplectella belongs to a category of sponges that are most commonly known as the “Venus Flower Basket”. It's a marine sponge found in the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Cliona, also known as a “red boring sponge”, is a sponge of the Clionaidae family. It can be found all over the world.

Hence, the option (A) is the correct choice.

Additional Information:

Poriferans are generally referred to as sponges. They are multicellular organisms with an organized cellular framework. In nature they are sedentary. These are made of either spongy, calcareous or silicon-fibers exoskeleton.

Euspongia is a commercially used sea sponge, best known as a bath sponge. Individuals are composed of a mesh of primary and secondary fibers in large lobes with small openings. It's light grey to colored black. It is found on rocky or sandy surfaces around the Mediterranean Sea up to hundred meters deep.

Note: Bath sponge are multicellular organisms with cellular level of organization. It is blackish in colour and round in shape. Reproduction is by budding and they have good water-holding capacity.