Classification of Phylum Porifera

This phylum is further divided into three classes, depending mostly upon the endoskeleton. Following is detailed brief about its three types:-

Class Calcispongiae or Calcarea

They all are present in both marine and freshwater.
Their skeleton comprises calcareous spicules which are formed of calcium carbonate.
The body is cylindrical and has a vase like structure.
Body organization of calcera are asconoid, leuconoid and syconoid.
Examples: Clathrina, Leucosolenia, Scypha

Class Hexactinellida Or Hyalospongiae

They are present in marine and also in the deep sea.
They are also known as glass sponges based on their siliceous spicules.
The canal system is sycon and leucon type
The body is cylindrical and has radial symmetry.
Example: Euplectella, Hyalonema

Class Demospongiae

Demosponges make up the bulk of sponge species and are the largest and most diversified class of sponges.
They are present in both freshwater and marine water.
they have a Leuconoid type canal system.
The skeleton system comprises of spongin fibers and siliceous spicules.
They are asymmetrical
This category includes a lot of commercial sponges used in cleaning and bathing products. The Bath Sponge (Spongia officinalis) and the Barrel Sponge are two examples.
More Examples: Cliona, Spongia, Spongilla, Chalina

Phylum Porifera

Phylum Porifera, also known as sponges, is a group of simple aquatic animals that lack true tissues and organs. Animals belonging to the Porifera phylum are the smallest multicellular creatures in the animal kingdom. ‘Porifera’ word is taken from Latin which means ‘pore-bearing species’. Around 5000 species are included in the phylum Porifera.

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