Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1997 13:33:11 -0500 (EST) From: WDiester@aol.com To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg648$foo@default> Subject: Re: Carnivorous Sponges
Hi all,
this is meant to end the "Carnivorous Sponges" and the "Carnivorous Fungi"
threads!
(Although I must say: I like both!)
The first "scientists" who tried to divide all livind beings into systematic
groups ended up with plants and animals. (Some people wanted to seperate
human beings from the second group, but this had religious reasons and is a
big nonsens as we all know.) These systematic groups are called "kingdoms",
or in biological latin we have "regnum plantae" and "regnum animalia".
All things that could move were animals, all other things (especially the
green ones) were plants.
Later the microcope was invented and the more science learned about the
microstructures of the creatures the more problems the systematists got with
their 2 kingdoms.
Today most biologists divide all living creatures up into 5 kingdoms:
Monera (all single celled species without a true nucleus, e.g. bacteria),
Protista (or sometimes Protoctista, all singled celled organisms with nucleus
and colonies build by them),
Fungi (toadstools, mushrooms etc.),
Plantae (multicellular organisms who can do photosynthesis),
Animalia (multicellular organisms who can do no photosynthesis and are no
fungi).
I know, these definitions are too short and could need a more detailed
explanation....
A carnivorous plant is a member of the regnum plantae who feeds on a member
of the regnum animalia!
In this strict sense a member of the regnum fungi who catches nematodes is no
CP!
There is no doubt that sponges belong to the regnum animalia.
Hope this helps.
A biologist could perhaps give us more details.
Happy growing (whatever you grow)
Wolfram
P.S.: At the time of writing I'm infested by some nasty flu viruses. These
are no living creatures at all, just tiny crystals of protein with genes.
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