Porifera

/pəˈrɪfərə/ noun

Definition

The phylum of animals commonly known as sponges, characterized by a porous body with channels and chambers through which water flows. They are the simplest multicellular animals, lacking true tissues and organs, and filter-feed by pumping water through their bodies.

Etymology

From Latin 'porus' meaning pore and 'ferre' meaning to bear, literally 'pore-bearers.' The name reflects their most distinctive feature - a body riddled with pores that allow water to flow through for feeding and respiration.

Kelly Says

Sponges are basically living water filters that can pump thousands of times their body volume in water every day! They're so simple they can be pushed through a sieve to separate their cells, and those cells will reassemble into a new sponge.

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