Porifera are commonly referred to as sponges. An early branching event in the history of animals separated the sponges from other metazoans. Fossil sponges are among the oldest known organisums (besides cingle sell organisums and bacteria). Since then, sponges have been obveous members of many fossil communities Their are many types of sponge liveing and exticnt. Their are approximately 5,000 living sponge species
Sponges are characterized by the their feeding system. Porfera do not have mouths. instead they have many pores onthe out side of the body, water is sucked in the pores. microscopic holes in the sponge outer walls filter all the protein and nutrition the sponges need from the water as the water is drawn through the body and out otherand even larger openings. |
