Demosponge

The Demospongiae are the largest class in the phylum Porifera. Their skeletons are made of spicules consisting of fibers of the protein spongin, the mineral silica, or both. Where spicules of silica are present, they have a different shape from those in the otherwise similar glass sponges.

Demospongiae
Barrel sponge (Xestospongia testudinaria)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Porifera
Class:	Demospongiae
Subclasses
Homoscleromorpha Tetractinomorpha

Demosponge Media

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  The carnivorous ping-pong tree sponge, Chondrocladia lampadiglobus

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  Monanchora arbuscula (Poecilosclerida)

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  Geodia barretti (Tetractinellida)

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  Chondrosia reniformis (Chondrosiida)

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  Spongia officinalis (Dictyoceratida)

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  Spongilla lacustris (Spongillida)

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  Red volcano sponge (Acarnus erithacus, Poecilosclerida).

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  Fossil chaetetid from the Bird Spring Formation (Upper Carboniferous) of southern Nevada.

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  Cross-section of a fossil chaetetid (Bird Spring Formation, Upper Carboniferous, Nevada.