PORIFERA

Porifera are commonly referred to as sponges.

Porifera live in marine environments, with the rare exception of some freshwater sponges.

Adult sponges are sessile. They will settle on rocks or other stationary materials.

The larvae are celiated, swimming freely through the water.

They are filter feeders - they draw in water, food is absorbed, and the excess water is then spat back out.

Porifera dispose of the waste through diffusion.

They reproduce asexually through budding.

They have no nervous system - no brain

They have no circulatory system either.

Examples of porifera include glass sponges, demisponges, and calcareous sponges.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• http://eol.org/pages/3142/names/common_names
• http://animals.about.com/od/sponge1/p/porifera.htm
• http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Porifera/