What characteristic is responsible for the branching off of sponges from the other animals?
loose aggregate cells (no true tissues)
What level of organization do they demonstrate?
cellular-level
What does the word "Porifera" mean?
"pore-bearers"
What is the name of the flagellated cells seen in sponges?
choanocytes
What characteristics are used to divide this phylum into classes?
canal systems & skeletal structures
When did they show up in the fossil record? What time does the molecular clock information suggest?
Cambrian period
Precambrian
Where are they distributed? Where do they live?
worldwide
ocean
Tissue layers for the phylum: Porifera?
no true tissues
What type of digestion do they have?
Intracellular
Type of Asexual Reproduction
Budding