Spongillatípus
Spongillatípus refers to the larval stage of certain freshwater sponges belonging to the class Demospongiae. These larvae are free-swimming and possess a ciliated epithelium that enables them to move through the water column. The morphology of Spongillatípus can vary slightly depending on the specific sponge species, but they generally exhibit a characteristic oval or spherical shape. Internally, the larva contains archaeocytes, which are totipotent cells that will later differentiate to form the adult sponge tissues.
The primary function of the Spongillatípus stage is dispersal. Once released from the parent sponge, the larvae