They Have No Brain… But They’re Brilliant! 🧠 | Poriferan Facts | Sponges and Their Secrets l EduNova

Описание: Facts of Phylum Porifera #porifera #biology #biofacts #life #explore #sciencefacts #scientificdiscovery

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Today, let's explore one of the simplest yet fascinating animal groups — Phylum Porifera, commonly known as sponges.

Porifera are multicellular, aquatic animals, mostly found in marine environments, though a few live in freshwater. The word Porifera means "pore-bearing" — and rightly so! Their bodies are full of tiny holes or pores that help in water circulation.

Sponges have a simple body structure. They don’t have a head, nerves, mouth, or organs. Instead, they have a central cavity called the spongocoel, and water enters their body through minute pores called ostia, flows through canals, and exits through a large opening called the osculum.

Sponges show cellular level of organization. Their body is supported by a skeleton made of spicules (which may be made of calcium carbonate or silica) or spongin fibers.

They are sessile animals — which means once attached to a surface, they don't move. They feed by filtering microscopic food particles from water — a method called filter feeding.

Sponges reproduce both asexually (by budding or fragmentation) and sexually (by producing gametes). Interestingly, most sponges are hermaphrodites, meaning a single sponge can produce both eggs and sperm.

There are around 5,000 to 10,000 species of sponges, and they play a crucial role in marine ecosystems by maintaining water quality and providing habitat for other organisms.

To sum up — Phylum Porifera represents the simplest multicellular animals, with porous bodies, no true tissues, and a unique water canal system that supports their survival.

That’s it for this quick dive into the world of sponges.
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