Porifera:

Organization:  Cellular level

Symmetry:  Various type

Coelom:  Absent

Segmentation: Absent

Digestive system: Absent (digestion takes place in cells)

Circulatory system:  Absent

Respiratory system:  Absent

Habitat: Marine

Sexuality: Hermaphrodite (sexes are not separate, egg and sperm are produced in same individual).

 Notochord: Absent

 Reproduction:  Sexual and asexual both.

Fertilization:  Internal and indirect

Respiratory organ : Through water vascular system.

Respiration: Occurs in water.

Excretory organ: Absent and it occurs through water vascular system.

Distinctive features:

• Also known as phylum of sponges.
• Water enters through minute pores (ostia) in the body wall into a central cavity, spongocoel, from where it goes out through the osculum.
• This path is the only way toperform respiration, excretion and for food gathering.
•  Choanocytes or collar cells line the body cavity including spongocoel.
• The body is supported by a skeleton made up of spicules or sponging fibres