Rocks and Geology Around Las Vegas
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Fossil Sponges. Sponges are multicellular, aquatic animals in the phylum Porifera. Their general body plan is a tube, open at one end and closed at the other. The external wall has pores through which water is drawn into the body, then interior channels circulate water through their internal structures. Sponges filter food and absorb oxygen from the water, then expel the water and waste through the large opening at the end of the body. Two basic kinds of sponges were common in the ancient seas that once covered the Las Vegas area: elongate sponges and spherical sponges. Both had multiple interior layers and appear in many sizes and shapes. Sponges are common in the limestone mountains around Las Vegas. A good place to see them is along Fossil Canyon Trail in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. |
 Elongate sponges exposed in broken limestone layers |
 Elongate sponges exposed in broken limestone layers (close-up) |
 Cross-section of spherical sponge exposed in limestone |
 Cross-section of spherical sponge (close-up) |
 Cross-section of spherical sponge (close-up) |
 Details of spherical sponge core (close-up) |
 Details of spherical sponge core showing pores |
 Exterior rind of spherical sponge |
 Textures of interior surface of the exterior rind of a spherical sponge |
 Elongate sponge exposed in limestone |
 Cross-section of elongate sponge showing interior layers |
 Interior layers of elongate sponge |
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 Sponge showing external siphon pores |
 Sponge showing external siphon pores (close-up) |
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 Rather large spherical sponge (wide-brimmed hat for scale) |
 Rather large spherical sponge |
 Interior details of rather large spherical sponge |
 Cross-section of spherical sponge |
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Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
; Last updated 240331
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