The Spongia Officinalis is a sponge that is commercially used and located all over the Mediterranean Sea.
Like most sponges, the Bath Sponge is a hermaphroditic, meaning they are capable of reproducing both sexually and asexually. Sexual reproduction occurs when the Bath Sponge produces sperm and releases it into the water. Since sponges cannot fertilize themselves, this newly released sperm will be collected by neighboring sponges, and will then fertilize their eggs. A newly formed larvae will then search for a surface that it can grow into a sponge on. Asexual reproduction occurs when the Bath Sponge goes through the process of budding. During this process, the Bath sponge produces a bud that grows off of the adult sponge's side. This bud eventually develops into a new sponge. The adult then stores new sponge-cells into a vesicle (small sac) over time, and then releases this vesicle into the water before it dies. This process continues the cycle of asexual reproduction in sponges. |