Many books and illustrated field guides have come out recently, including the Catalogue of Brazilian Porifera. Due to their anti-infective, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, sponges have also received growing attention from pharmaceutical companies for the development of new natural products.
Sponges grow in distinct shapes and colors. More types can be found in tropical regions, less in colder parts of the world oceans. Sponges are divided into four distinct classes, 25 orders, 128 families and 680 genera. There are several hundred fresh water species.