Guizhou researchers discovered an ancient creature 600 million years old. Has "SpongeBob SquarePants" been found?

Science Fiction Network, December 7 (Xu Mingyang) According to CCTV.com, recently, in Xishui National Nature Reserve in Guizhou, researchers conducted a comprehensive scientific expedition and found a bunch of light brown, antler-like objects growing on the rocks under the water when they passed by a small river in the reserve. These objects are distributed over an area of ​​about 100 square meters. After identification, they are very primitive multicellular animals - sponges, and they are relatively rare freshwater sponges.

Sponges are the most primitive multicellular organisms, and their main components are calcium carbonate or silicon carbonate, as well as a large amount of collagen. Current research generally believes that sponges have lived on the seabed for 600 million years. There are more than 10,000 species of sponges, most of which are marine animals, and there are only about 20 species of freshwater sponges.

Sponges come in various shapes, including spheres, discs, tubes, fans, sheets, branches, etc., and their sizes are not fixed, some may be only a few millimeters, while others can reach more than two meters. Sponges have neither head, tail, trunk, nor limbs, nor mouth, digestive cavity, nor nerves. The most important structure on their bodies is the water pipe system, which is mainly composed of water inlets, collar cells, and water outlets. Sponges usually vibrate the flagella on their bodies to allow some microorganisms to enter the small holes all over their bodies. After digestion, the food residues are discharged from the water outlet.

Because they cannot walk, sponges usually attach themselves to reefs on the seabed. Glass sponges can live in the deep sea up to 6,000 meters deep, and some sponges live on the shells of abalone or oysters. Sponges reproduce in two ways: asexual and sexual.

Studies have found that sponges will constantly filter the water in the surrounding environment, feed on bacteria, and improve water quality, but in an environment with too many suspended particles, sponges may stop filtering water and eating. In addition, the toxins in some sponges can also treat tumors, cardiovascular diseases and other aspects.