What is porifera and its characteristics?
Characteristics of Phylum Porifera Only a few are found in freshwater. They are either radially symmetrical or asymmetrical. Their body is usually cylindrical.
What are the classification of porifera?
The following is the classification of phylum Porifera:
- Class I: Calcarea (L. Calcarius=limy)
- Class II: Hexactanellida (Gr. Hex=six; Actin=ray)
- Class III: Desmospongiae (Gr. Demas=frame; Spongos=sponges)
Where are Demospongiae found?
The Demospongiae is the largest Class in the Sponge Phylum (Porifera), it contains over 90% of living sponges, and nearly all the larger species. They can be found at all depths in both fresh and salt water. The skeleton can be siliceous, spongin, or both. The spicules are either simple or four-rayed.
Are Porifera solitary or colonial?
Sponges belong to the phylum Porifera, meaning pore bearing. They are nearly exclusively marine and are quite simple organisms, but vary greatly in form and size. Some are solitary individuals, and others occur in groups or colonies of individuals. They lack internal organs and circulatory and digestive systems.
What are the 4 main types of cells found in sponges?
Although sponges do not have organized tissue, they depend on specialized cells, such as choanocytes, porocytes, amoebocytes, and pinacocytes, for specialized functions within their bodies. The mesohyl acts as a type of endoskeleton, helping to maintain the tubular shape of sponges.
Why are Poriferas called sponges?
The name porifera means ‘pore bearer’ in Latin (a pore is a tiny hole). A sponge’s body is covered by a skin, one cell thick. This skin has lots of small pores and a few large openings.
Is bath sponge Demospongiae?
The bath sponges are in the Demospongiae, see Spongia sp. above, and Spongia officinalis below. Bath sponges are simply the spongin skeleton which has been left behind after all the other cells have been removed in various treatments.