Clade for Phylum PORIFERA
PHYLUM PORIFERA (sponges; tree & traits from Ruppert/Barnes, Ed. #7)
==2======== Hexactinellida (glass sponges; no regular canal system) | |========== Sclerospongia (coralline sponges; leucon type, silica & calcareous spicules) <<===1==| | ==4=== Calcarea (includes ascon, sycon & leucon grades) ==3==| ==5=== Demospongia (most living sponge species; leucon type)
TRAITS SUPPORTING EACH CLADE (** plesiomorphic- a primitive state, not unique to clade):
b) water canal system with pumping choanocytes** (monociliated cells with diplosome) c) extensive mesenchyme (gelatinous proteinaceous matrix containing skeletal material & amoeboid cells) d) silica spicules, initiated intracellulary e) pinacoderm (epithelium-like outer layer) lacking basal lamina & intercellular junctions f) dynamic tissue remodelling (reversible differentiation of most cell types) b) distinctive 6-pointed spicule (hexactine) c) most cells part of extensive syncytium |
b) transport of sperm to egg via choanocyte b) calcareous spicules b) spongocytes & spongin fibers c) distinctive 4-pointed spicule (tetraxon) |
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