摘要: Active locomotion by individual marine and freshwater sponges across glass, plastic rubber substrata has been studied in relation to the behavior of sponges' component cells. Sequential tracing sponge outlines on aquarium walls shows that can crawl up 160 microns/hr (4 mm/day). Time-lapse cinemicrography scanning electron microscopy reveal moving possess distinctive leading edges composed motile Sponge was found be mechanically similar spreading cell sheets tissue culture both with respect exertion traction (which causes wrinkling substrata) patterns adhesive contacts formed substratum (as observed interference reflection microscopy). Other similarities include orientation along grooves preferential extension onto more substrata. Neither produced nor distributions seen show evidence periodic, propagating waves surface contractions, such as would expected if mechanism were peristalsis or locomotory waves. Our observations suggest displacement is achieved cumulative crawling cells compose sponge's lower surface. This mode organismal suggests new explanations for plasticity morphology, seems not have reported from other metazoans, significant ecological implications.