Simple Animals

Phylum Porifera and Phylum Cnidaria

Characteristics of All
Animals

Heterotrophic, multicellular eukaryotes.

Lack cell walls.
Specialized nervous & muscle tissue.
Primarily sexual
reproduction.

Body Plan
Used to classify animals.
Features:
Body symmetry: asymmetrical, bilateral or
radial.
Degree of cell organization: function
independently or form tissues and organs.
Presence of a coelom (internal body cavity).

Body Plan

Ancestor?
It is believed that animals descended from
colonial flagellated protists.
E.g., choanoflagellate.

Phylum Porifera
The Sponges
Most primitive animals.
All aquatic and mostly marine.
Sessile.

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Phylum Porifera
Simple, asymmetrical body plan.
No mouth, digestive cavity, muscles and
nervous system.

Phylum Porifera
Absorbs water through tiny pores (ostia).
Expels water through larger pores (oscula).

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Phylum Porifera
Reproduction
1. Reproduce Sexually:

Many are hermaphrodites.

2. Reproduce Asexually:

Budding.
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Phylum Cnidaria
Radial symmetry.
Cells organized into tissues.
E.g., jellyfish, sea anemones
and corals.

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Phylum Cnidaria
All cnidarians have stinging structures
within their tentacles.
Toxic substances paralyze prey.

Mouth/anus leads to gastrovascular cavity.

Where digestion, circulation and gas
exchange occur.

Phylum Cnidaria
Lifecycle for most alternates between asexual
sessile polyps and sexual free-swimming medusas.

Phylum Cnidaria
Portuguese Man-of-War
Tentacles may be up to 50 m in length.

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