How do sponges obtain their food and what do they primarily consume?

• A. Sponges filter feed on plankton and small particles from water.
• B. Sponges absorb nutrients directly from the substrate.
• C. Sponges photosynthesize to produce their own food.
• D. Sponges use tentacles to capture small fish.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that sponges are simple aquatic animals that belong to the phylum Porifera.
2. Recognize that sponges are filter feeders, meaning they obtain their food by filtering water through their porous bodies.
3. Identify that sponges primarily consume plankton and small organic particles suspended in the water.
4. Note that sponges do not have a digestive system; instead, they rely on specialized cells called choanocytes to trap and ingest food particles.
5. Clarify that sponges do not photosynthesize or use tentacles to capture prey, as they lack chlorophyll and tentacles.