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Questions and Answers
What is the Latin name of the phylum commonly known as sponges?
What is the Latin name of the phylum commonly known as sponges?
What are invertebrates?
What are invertebrates?
Animals without a backbone.
What are sponges classified as?
What are sponges classified as?
Aquatic animals that make up the phylum Porifera.
What does 'sessile' mean in reference to sponges?
What does 'sessile' mean in reference to sponges?
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The basic body structure of a sponge consists of two layers of cells separated by a jellylike substance called ______.
The basic body structure of a sponge consists of two layers of cells separated by a jellylike substance called ______.
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What are chanocytes?
What are chanocytes?
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What are the pores through which water enters a sponge called?
What are the pores through which water enters a sponge called?
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What is the name of the opening through which water leaves the sponge?
What is the name of the opening through which water leaves the sponge?
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What are spongins?
What are spongins?
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How do sponges primarily feed?
How do sponges primarily feed?
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How can sponges reproduce?
How can sponges reproduce?
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Sponges can reproduce ______ by forming small buds that break off.
Sponges can reproduce ______ by forming small buds that break off.
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Sponges reproduce ______ by releasing sperm into the water.
Sponges reproduce ______ by releasing sperm into the water.
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Which two phyla are more complex than regular sponges?
Which two phyla are more complex than regular sponges?
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What shape is the medusa form of cnidarians?
What shape is the medusa form of cnidarians?
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What shape is the polyp form of cnidarians?
What shape is the polyp form of cnidarians?
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Name the two layers of cells that cnidarians are constructed with.
Name the two layers of cells that cnidarians are constructed with.
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What is the jellylike material between the layers of cnidarians called?
What is the jellylike material between the layers of cnidarians called?
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What is the mouth of the cnidarians called?
What is the mouth of the cnidarians called?
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What are the flexible extensions surrounding the mouth of cnidarians called?
What are the flexible extensions surrounding the mouth of cnidarians called?
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What specialized cells do cnidarians contain for defense and capturing prey?
What specialized cells do cnidarians contain for defense and capturing prey?
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What is a nematocyst?
What is a nematocyst?
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Nervous responses in cnidarians are controlled by a diffuse web of interconnected nerve cells called a ______.
Nervous responses in cnidarians are controlled by a diffuse web of interconnected nerve cells called a ______.
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How many classes of cnidarians do scientists recognize?
How many classes of cnidarians do scientists recognize?
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Study Notes
Porifera (Sponges)
- Commonly known as sponges, the phylum name Porifera derives from the numerous pores on their body surface.
- Sponges are simple aquatic animals classified under the phylum Porifera, linking unicellular to multicellular life forms.
- As sessile organisms, adult sponges attach to surfaces and do not move.
Invertebrates
- Invertebrates are animals lacking a backbone, encompassing over 1 million species, with sponges being a significant group.
Sponge Structure and Function
- The basic structure of a sponge includes two layers of cells separated by a jellylike substance known as mesophyll.
- The interior of the sponge cylinder is lined with flagellated cells called choanocytes, which play a key role in water filtration.
- Water enters the sponge through tiny pores called ostia and exits through a large opening known as the osculum.
- Sponges have a simple skeleton made of flexible fibers called spongins or spicules, which are hard particles of silicon dioxide.
Feeding Mechanism
- Sponges feed through filter feeding: Choanocytes beat their flagella to draw water in, trapping plankton and tiny organisms with their hair-like projections.
- Digested nutrients are distributed throughout the sponge by amoebocytes.
Reproduction in Sponges
- Sponges can reproduce both sexually and asexually.
- Asexual reproduction involves forming small buds that can break off, and gemmules that can develop into new sponges under favorable conditions.
- Sexual reproduction involves releasing sperm into the water, where they enter another sponge’s pores, with fertilization occurring in the mesophyll.
Cnidaria and Ctenophora
- Cnidaria and Ctenophora are phyla of more complex, radially symmetrical invertebrates, organized into tissues and possessing simple organs.
Cnidarian Structure
- Cnidarians have two cell layers: the outer epidermis and the inner gastrodermis, with mesoglea, a jellylike substance, located between them.
- The gastrovascular cavity serves as the mouth for cnidarians, surrounded by flexible extensions known as tentacles.
Cnidocytes and Nematocysts
- Cnidocytes are specialized cells in cnidarians used for defense and capturing prey, containing organelles called nematocysts.
- Nematocysts have coiled filaments that shoot out when triggered, injecting venom to subdue prey.
Nervous System in Cnidarians
- Cnidarians lack a centralized brain; instead, they have a diffuse nerve net, allowing for basic nervous responses distributed throughout their bodies.
Classes of Cnidaria
- Scientists categorize cnidarians into four classes, including Hydrozoa, Cubozoa, and Scyphozoa, each representing different groups and variations within the phylum.
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Description
Test your knowledge on sponges and their classification in the phylum Porifera with this engaging quiz. Learn about the characteristics and importance of these invertebrates, which make up a significant portion of the animal kingdom. Perfect for students studying biology or marine life.
