The larval stages of sponges include:
Planula: A free-swimming, ciliated larval organism that results from multiple cell divisions of a zygote
Amphiblastula: A common larval stage found in scypha
Parenchymula: A common larval stage found in leucosolenia
Sponges have a life cycle that includes a vegetative growth phase, gemmulation (asexual reproduction), sexual reproduction, cryptobiosis (resting phase), gemmule hatching, and regeneration. If sexual reproduction occurs, parenchymella larvae are produced and disperse before developing into a mature sponge.
