What is Sponge (tool)?
:''More information about the [[animal]] can be found at [[Sponge (animal)]]'' A '''Sponge''' is a [[tool]] that is used for cleaning and washing. The sponge is made of a special material, with many holes. By rubbing the sponge against dirty surfaces, the dirt can be removed. Today, there are also [[artificial]] sponges. <gallery> Image:Urethane sponge1.jpg|An artificial sponge, made of [[polyurethane]] Image:Urethane sponge2.jpg|Close up of the artificial sponge Image:Schwamm1.jpg|A natural sponge. This is the skeleton of a [[sponge]] from the Demosponges </gallery> ==Natural sponges for cleaning== Most natural sponges used for cleaning today come from the [[Mediterranean]] and the [[Caribbean]]. Today [[Izmir]] and [[Tripolis]] are the main markets where natural sponges are sold. ==Other qualities of natural sponges== ===Antibiotic compounds=== Sponges have [[medicine|medicinal]] potential. This is because of [[antimicrobial]] compounds in either the sponge itself or their microbial [[symbiosis|symbiont]]s.<ref>See, for example Teeyapant R, Woerdenbag HJ, Kreis P, Hacker J, Wray V, Witte L, Proksch P. (1993) Antibiotic and cytotoxic activity of brominated compounds from the marine sponge Verongia aerophoba. ''Zeitschrift für Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences'' '''48''':939-45.</ref> ==Dolphin use sponges== [[Bottlenose dolphin]]s have been seen using live sponges. This was in [[Shark Bay]]. Shark bay is in [[Western Australia]]. The behaviour has only been observed in the bay. Most likely adult dolphins teach it to their children. The only other marine mammals that use tools are [[Sea otter]]s. ==References== <references /> [[Category:Cleaning tools]]