Sponge | Definition, Features, Reproduction, & Facts | Britannica
Dec 7, 2025 · Sponge, any of the primitive multicellular aquatic animals that constitute the phylum Porifera. They number approximately 5,000 described species and inhabit all seas, where they occur …
Characteristics and life cycle of sponges | Britannica
sponge, Any of some 5,000 species (phylum Porifera) of permanently affixed (sessile), mostly marine, solitary or colonial invertebrates, found from shallow to deep (more than 30,000 ft, or 9,000 m) waters.
Sponge - Porifera, Demospongiae, & Calcarea | Britannica
Dec 7, 2025 · They belong to the phylum Porifera, which is a group of primitive multicellular aquatic animals. This classification is based on their cellular structures and biological functions, which align …
Sponge - Filter Feeding, Skeleton, Reproduction | Britannica
Dec 7, 2025 · The Porifera are primarily filter feeders, utilizing food particles suspended in the water and captured by the choanocytes. Food particles consist essentially of bacteria, other microorganisms, …
Sponge - Anatomy, Filtering, Reproduction | Britannica
Dec 7, 2025 · Paleontological Research Institution - Digital Atlas of Ancient Life - Porifera Nature - Nature Communications - Evidence for sponges as sister to all other animals from partitioned …
Sponges Portal | Britannica
Sponge, any of the primitive multicellular aquatic animals that constitute the phylum Porifera. They number approximately 5,000 described species and inhabit all seas, where they occur attached to …
Are Sponges Considered Animals? | Sponges, Structure, Functions ...
Dec 7, 2025 · They belong to the phylum Porifera, which is a group of primitive multicellular aquatic animals. This classification is based on their cellular structures and biological functions, which align …
Cnidarian | Definition, Life Cycle, Classes, & Facts | Britannica
As first defined, coelenterates included not only the animals now designated cnidarians but also sponges (phylum Porifera) and comb jellies (phylum Ctenophora). In contemporary usage, …
Hydra | Freshwater, Cnidaria, Polyp | Britannica
Dec 5, 2025 · As first defined, coelenterates included not only the animals now designated cnidarians but also sponges (phylum Porifera) and comb jellies (phylum Ctenophora).
Sponge - Skeletal Structure, Porifera, Spicules | Britannica
Dec 7, 2025 · Sponge - Skeletal Structure, Porifera, Spicules: The skeleton of sponges is of great taxonomic significance. It may be mineral in nature or composed of protein and other components …