Phylum Porifera

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Phylum Porifera
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Phylum Porifera

• Sponges are the simplest animals
• Radially symmetrical
• Acoelomate
• Body resembles a perforated sac.
• Has inner cavity called spongocoel
• Has large opening called osculum
• Lining body are cells flagellated cells called
  choanocytes
• These cells beat to produce a flow of H20 into
  the sponge through pores in through the body
  wall, and out through the osculum.
• Body wall is composed of many elements
• Mesohyl - gelatenous material
• Amoebocytes
• Motile cells which perform many functions
• Capture, digest and transport food
• Create tough structural fibers of the body wall
  called spicules.

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A Typical Sponge
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Sponges