The fire sponge, Tedania nigrescens
The fire sponge, Tedania nigrescens |
The phyylum Porifera is named for its innumerable pores. Members of the phylum lack tissues or organs and consist of only two layers of cells. They are filter feeders and are distinguished by having so called collar cells that are ciliated and responsible for food uptake. It is not obvious that the Porifera share an ancestor with the rest of the Animalia. Most have symbotic photosynthetic microscopic organisms. |