Porifera
The Phylum Porifera is one of the oldest known Phylums in the known world that dates back to the late Precambrian Era. Right now there are approximately 5,000 known species classified in the Porifera Phylum and we are still discovering more everyday! The Porifera Phylum is also split up into 3 main groups Hexactinellida (glass sponges), the Demospongia, and the Calcarea (calcareous sponges).
|
Porifera's have a very different body type then most animals. They do not have a circulatory, digestive or nervous system. Even there own skeletal system is outside there main body. There are different kinds of skeletal systems for different kinds of sponges. For example, in soft sponges the only skeletal system they have is a sort of soft endoskeleton made up of mineral spicules. Another example is with hard sponges there skeletal system is made up of big calcium deposits all around there body.