parenchymella

The parenchymella is a solid, compact larval form of certain sponges, primarily found in the Demospongiae class. This larva has an outer layer of flagellated cells and an inner mass of non-flagellated cells. After a period of swimming, the parenchymella larva attaches to a suitable surface and undergoes metamorphosis to become a young sponge. During this transformation, the outer flagellated cells develop into the choanocytes of the adult sponge, which are responsible for creating water currents and capturing food. The inner cells of the larva give rise to the outer cell layer and other cells within the sponge's mesohyl.1