Into the World of

Phyla Porifera and

Cnidaria
Jade O. Hizon, LPT
Master of Science in Biology Education, CLSU
[email protected]
 Outline of the
Objectives:
Presentation
At the end of this presentation, you should be able to:
Characteristics Classes and Characteristics
a. describe the distinguishing characteristics of Phyla of Representative of
Porifera and Cnidaria; Phylum Porifera Organisms of Phylum Cnidaria
Phylum Porifera
b. enumerate the classes under Phyla Porifera and
Cnidaria;
Classes and Recent
c. give the representative organisms for each class; and
Representative New Species
Organisms of
d. familiarize with recent new species discoveries regarding Discoveries
Phylum Cnidaria
Phyla Porifera and Cnidaria.
Characteristics of
Phylum Porifera
 Characteristics of Phylum Porifera

Porous Body

Sessile
The Sponges
Sponges (phylum Porifera) are the
simplest of all animals. A simple sponge Filter Feeder
resembles a thick-walled sac perforated
with holes. (Porifera means “pore-bearer” in
Latin. Majority are marine
Morphology of Sponges

They have no definite shape; no organs;

no body symmetry

They have no nerves or muscles, though

their individual cells can sense and react
to changes in the environment.

Takes the shape of a cylinder with a

large central cavity, the spongocoel,
occupying the inside of the cylinder.
Morphology of Sponges
Many sponges have internal skeletons of
spongin and/or spicules of calcium
carbonate or silica.

Water can enter into the spongocoel from

numerous pores (ostia) in the body wall.
Water entering the spongocoel is extruded
via a large, common opening called the
osculum.

Since water is vital to sponges for

excretion, feeding, and gas exchange, their
body structure facilitates the movement of
water through the sponge. Structures such
as canals, chambers, and cavities enable
water to move through the sponge to
nearly all body cells.
Morphology of Sponges: Specialized Cells
The body of a sponge consists of two
layers of cells separated by a gelatinous
region called mesohyl (or mesenchyme).

Mesohyl is an extracellular matrix

consisting of a collagen-like gel with
suspended cells that perform various
functions. The gel-like consistency of
mesohyl acts as an endoskeleton,
maintaining the tubular morphology of
sponges.

Since the cell layers are loose associations

of cells, they are not considered true
tissues.
Morphology of Sponges: Specialized Cells
Choanocyte: any of the cells in sponges that
contain a flagellum and are used to control the
movement of water.

The structure of a choanocyte is critical to its

function, which is to generate a water current
through the sponge and to trap and ingest food
particles by phagocytosis. Note that there is a
similarity in appearance between the sponge
choanocyte and choanoflagellates (Protista).
This similarity suggests that sponges and
choanoflagellates are closely related and
probably share a recent, common ancestry.
Morphology of Sponges: Specialized Cells
Amoebocytes: (1) delivering nutrients from
choanocytes to other cells within the sponge; (2)
giving rise to eggs for sexual reproduction
(which remain in the mesohyl); (3) delivering
phagocytized sperm from choanocytes to eggs;
and (4) differentiating into more-specific cell
types.

a. collencytes and lophocytes: produce the

collagen-like protein to maintain the mesohyl.

b. sclerocytes: produce spicules in some

sponges.

c. spongocytes: produce the protein spongin in

the majority of sponges.
Morphology of Sponges: Specialized Cells

Pinacocytes: are epithelial-like cells,

form the outermost layer of sponges,
enclosing a jelly-like substance called
mesohyl.

Porocytes: control the amount of

water that enters pores into the
spongocoel
Cross-section of a Sponge
 Physiological Processes

Sponges, despite being simple organisms,

regulate their different physiological
processes through a variety of mechanisms.
These mechanisms regulate (a) metabolism
and (b) reproduction.

A sponge releasing sperms

 A. Metabolism
Feeding Mechanism

Sponges are examples of suspension

feeders (also known as filter feeders),
animals that collect food particles from
water passed through some type of
food-trapping equipment.

Sponges lack complex digestive

systems. Their food is trapped when
water passes through the ostia and out
through the osculum.

Water flow in a sponge: In a sponge, water enters through the body pores and exits in the direction of the
osculum (direction of blue arrow). This diffusion of water through the body supports major functions in the
sponge.
 A. Metabolism
Feeding Mechanism
Bacteria smaller than 0.5 microns in size
are trapped by choanocytes, which are
the principal cells engaged in nutrition,
and are ingested by phagocytosis.

Particles that are larger than the ostia

may be phagocytized by pinacocytes.

In some sponges, amoebocytes transport

food from cells that have ingested food
particles to those that do not.
 A. Metabolism
Other Metabolic Processes

DIFFUSION
Obtaining oxygen from water

Releasing carbon dioxide into seawater

Excreting nitrogenous waste produced as a

by-product of protein metabolism
 B. Reproduction
Asexual Reproduction

FRAGMENTATION
where a piece of the sponge breaks off, settles
on a new substrate, and develops into a new
individual
 B. Reproduction
Asexual Reproduction

BUDDING
where a genetically-identical outgrowth from the
parent eventually detaches or remains attached
to form a colony
 B. Reproduction
Sexual Reproduction

Sponges are usually both male and female

(hermaphrodites) but rarely self-fertilize.

“Male” releases sperm (broadcast spawning) which enters

the “female” sponge for internal fertilization.

Larvae are released. These drift until they attach to a rock

and grow into an adult sponge.
 Classes and
Representative
Organisms
Classes and Representative Organisms

Sponge Spicule: Sponges are classified

based on the presence and types of
spicules or spongin they contain.
Classes and Representative Organisms
Sponges are classified within four
classes:
a. calcareous sponges (Calcarea),

b. glass sponges (Hexactinellida),

c. demosponges (Demospongiae),

d. and the recently-recognized,

encrusting sponges
(Homoscleromorpha).
 Classes and Representative Organisms
A. Class Calcarea (Chalk Sponges)

Exclusively marine, calcareous sponges

predominantly inhabit shallow tropical waters. They
are often small and delicate, with thin coalescent
tubes or a vase-like form. The majority are white or
cream, but may also be pink, red or yellow. Calcium
carbonate spicules are present, with limited variation
in spicule morphology.

Clathrina clathrus
 Classes and Representative Organisms
B. Class Demospongiage (Horn Sponges)

Comprises the largest and most diverse group,

inhabiting both marine and freshwater
environments. Huge variety in both form and
colour. Siliceous spicules present and/or skeleton
of spongin fibres or fibrillar collagen.

Acarnus erithacus
 Classes and Representative Organisms
C. Class Hexactinellida (Glass Sponges)
Exclusively marine and largely restricted to both
hard and soft substrates in deeper environments
(beyond 400 m). Dull colouration and variable
body form, but never encrusting. Some species
have large, conspicuous, hair-like spicules visible
to the naked eye. Siliceous six-rayed spicules
present, with highly diverse spicule morphologies.
Often long-lived and fragile, they are particularly
susceptible to disturbance.

Staurocalyptus spp.
 Classes and Representative Organisms

D. Class Homoscleromorpha
Small group of marine sponges inhabiting
predominantly shallow environments, often found
in dark or semi-dark ecosystems (e.g. caves).
Encrusting or lobate with a smooth surface, often
small and delicate. Small siliceous spicules
present, but lacking a well-organised skeleton.

Oscarella rubra
Parking Lot Questions and
Information
 Parking Lot Questions and Information

Could you please

elaborate the process
of broadcast spawning
in sponges?

A sponge releasing sperms

 "Factors associated with environmental
conditions such as food availability,
population density, light, habitat
stability, and seasonal variation in
temperature are perceived externally by
individuals in a population and delivered
to and interpreted by the internal
effectors which direct the expression
of...sexual reproduction [in sponges] ".

A sponge releasing sperms

 "Nevertheless, it seems that water
temperature and food availability play
the most important role in this process
in sponges. Indeed, it have been
showed, that in both tropical and
temperate sponges temperature is one
of the important factors for the
regulation of sexual reproduction."

A sponge releasing sperms

 "Numerous attempts have been made
to correlate the reproductive activity
with the environmental fluctuations.
However, correlation does not
necessarily indicate the direct causality,
and there have been only few
experimental studies of sponge
reproduction. Clearly, experimental
investigations are needed to confirm or
refute the conclusions derived from the
purely correlative studies." (Encyclopedia
of Reproduction, 2018)
A sponge releasing sperms
 Regulatory aspects of sexual
reproduction of sponges is poorly
known.

A sponge releasing sperms

Parking Lot Questions and Information

Show the life-cycle

of Sponges
 Parking Lot Questions and Information

Show a picture of Venus Flower Basket

 The name Venus’s
flower basket derives
from the sponges’
delicate, white,
latticelike skeletons
made of silica. It is a
marine sponge found in
the deep waters of the
Pacific ocean.
Euplectella aspergillum
 Parking Lot Questions and Information

Class Sclerospongia
and
Class Homoscleromorpha
 Parking Lot Questions and Information

"Sclerosponges were first proposed as a class of sponges,

Sclerospongiae, in 1970 by Hartman and Goreau. However, it was
later found by Vacelet (1985) that sclerosponges occur in
different classes of Porifera. That means that sclerosponges are
not a closely related (taxonomic) group of sponges and are
considered to be a polyphyletic grouping and contained within the
Demospongiae, (Wikipedia). "
 Parking Lot Questions and Information

"Molecular and morphological evidence show that the

Homoscleromorpha do not belong in this class
[Demospongiae]. The Homoscleromorpha was therefore
officially taken out of the Demospongiae in 2012, and
became the fourth class of phylum Porifera, (Wikipedia). "
Characteristics of
Phylum Cnidaria
 Characteristics of Phylum Cnidaria

Diploblastic

Radial Symmetry
The Cnidarians
Cnidarians are diploblastic, have
Has 2 distinct
organized tissue, undergo extracellular morphological body plan
digestion, and use stinging cells for
protection and to capture prey. Has cnidocytes
 Cnidarians' Morphology
Cnidarians are characterized by radial
symmetry and bodies arising from only two
tissue layers (diploblastic).

The simple body of most cnidarians has an

outer epidermis and an inner cell layer
(gastrodermis) that lines the digestive cavity.

Between these two membrane layers is a

non-living, jelly-like mesoglea connective
layer.
Cnidarians' Morphology
Animals in this phylum display two distinct
morphological body plans: polyp or “stalk”
and medusa or “bell”.

Polyp forms are sessile as adults, with a

single opening to the digestive system (the
mouth) facing up with tentacles
surrounding it.

Medusa forms are motile, with the mouth

and tentacles hanging down from an
umbrella-shaped bell.
 Cnidarians' Morphology
Some cnidarians pass sequentially through
both a polyp stage and a medusa stage in their
life cycle (polymorphic).

An example is a colonial hydroid called an

Obelia.

Gastrozooid- for capturing prey and feeding

Gonozooid- breaks off, and become free-

swimmming medusa.
Cnidarians' Morphology: Cellular Complexity
In terms of cellular complexity, cnidarians show
the presence of differentiated cell types in each
tissue layer:

a. Nutritive-muscular cells: provide support and

structure with a hydrostatic skeleton; additionally
they also function as digestive cells (found in the
gastrodermis).

b. Epitheliomuscular cells: provide a protective

covering and muscular movement. Contracts
tentacles. (epidermis).
Cnidarians' Morphology: Cellular Complexity
In terms of cellular complexity, cnidarians show
the presence of differentiated cell types in each
tissue layer:

c. Interstitial cells: stem cells that can develop into a

variety of other cells including cnidocytes, sex cells,
buds, nerve cells etc. (found in the epidermis).
Cnidarians' Morphology: Specialize Cell
Cnidarians contain specialized cells known as
cnidocytes (“stinging cells”), which contain
organelles called nematocysts (stinging organelles).
These cells are present around the mouth and
tentacles, serving to immobilize prey with toxins
contained within the cells.

Nematocysts contain coiled threads that may bear

barbs.

The outer wall of the cell has hairlike projections

called cnidocils, which are sensitive to touch.
Cnidarians' Morphology: Specialize Cell
Cnidarians' Feeding Mechanism and Digestion
The mouth leads into a multifunctional
compartment called a gastrovascular
cavity, where food is digested.

Digestion begins in the gastrovascular

cavity. Digestive enzymes are secreted in
the gastrovascular cavity and the food is
broken down into smaller pieces.

After the food is broken down, nutrients

get absorbed by the cells lining the
gastrovascular cavity. Eventually, the
waste is expelled out the mouth.
Cnidarians' Feeding Mechanism and Digestion
Three functions of a cnidarian’s
Gastrovascular cavity:

a. Digestion (extracellular digestion)

b. Circulation (transport of oxygen, nutrients,

and wastes), and

c. Physical support and movement (hydrostatic

skeleton)
Cnidarians' Nervous System
The nervous system is primitive, with nerve
cells scattered across the body.No central
nervous system (i. e. brain) in Cnidarians. All of
the sensory and nerve cells are connected via
a nerve net which is a complex network of
cells that are able to communicate and
respond to each other.

Some Cnidarians also have some basic

sensory cells that are connected to their
nerve net. Statocysts provide equilibrium and
balance. Ocelli are photosensitive and detect
light.
Cnidarians Lack Other Body Systems
No Respiratory System: cnidarian cells
exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide by
diffusion between cells in the epidermis with
water in the environment, and between cells
in the gastrodermis with water in the
gastrovascular cavity.

No Circulatory System: nutrients must move

from the cells that absorb them in the lining
of the gastrovascular cavity through the
mesoglea to other cells.
Cnidarians Lack Other Body Systems

No Excretory System: nitrogenous wastes

simply diffuse from the cells into the water
outside the animal or in the gastrovascular
cavity.
 Classes and
Representative
Organisms
 Classes and Representative Organisms

The phylum Cnidaria contains about 10,000

described species divided into four classes:
(a) Anthozoa, (b) Scyphozoa, (c) Cubozoa,
and (d) Hydrozoa.
 Classes and Representative Organisms
A. Class Anthozoa
The class Anthozoa includes all cnidarians
that exhibit a polyp body plan only; in other
words, there is no medusa stage within their
life cycle. Examples include sea anemones,
sea pens, and corals, with an estimated
number of 6,100 described species.

Urticina piscivora
 Classes and Representative Organisms
A. Class Anthozoa
The pharynx of anthozoans (ingesting as well
as egesting food) leads to the gastrovascular
cavity, which is divided by mesenteries.

Moreover, gametes are produced by the

polyp; if they fuse, they will give rise to a free-
swimming planula larva, which will become
sessile once it finds an optimal substrate.
Urticina felina
 Classes and Representative Organisms
B. Class Scyphozoa

Class Scyphozoa, an exclusively marine

class of animals with about 200 known
species, includes all the jellies. The
defining characteristic of this class is that
the medusa is the prominent stage in the
life cycle, although there is a polyp stage
present.

Cyanea capillata
 Classes and Representative Organisms
B. Class Scyphozoa
Scyphozoans have a ring of muscles that
lines the dome of their bodies; these
structures provide them with the
contractile force they need to swim
through water.

Scyphozoans have separate sexes

(dioecious) and form planula larvae
through external fertilization.
Crambione mastigophora
 Classes and Representative Organisms
C. Class Cubozoa

Class Cubozoa includes jellies that have a

box-shaped medusa: a bell that is square in
cross-section; hence, they are colloquially
known as “box jellyfish.” These species may
achieve sizes of 15–25 cm.

Malo kingi
 Classes and Representative Organisms
C. Class Cubozoa
Cubozoans display overall morphological
and anatomical characteristics that are
similar to those of the scyphozoans. A
prominent difference between the two
classes is the arrangement of tentacles.
This is the most venomous group of all the
cnidarians.

Chironex fleckeri
 Classes and Representative Organisms
D. Class Hydrozoa
Hydrozoa includes nearly 3,200 species; most are
marine, although some freshwater species are
known. Animals in this class are polymorphs: most
exhibit both polypoid and medusoid forms in their
lifecycle, although this is variable.

Hydrozoans are unique from all other cnidarians

in that their gonads are derived from epidermal
tissue.
Hydra
New Species Discoveries
under Phyla Porifera
and Cnidaria
New Species under Phylum Porifera
New Species under Phylum Porifera
Two new species of deep-sea sponges
from the Weddell Sea are described. Both
are new to science: a carnivorous
Demospongiae species Abyssocladia
antarctica sp. nov. and a Hexactinellida
species Caulophacus leonieae sp. nov.,
New Species under Phylum Porifera
New Species under Phylum Porifera

The three new species described in this

paper are Nullarbora heptaxia sp. nov.,
Abyssocladia oxyasters sp. nov. and
Lycopodina hystrix sp. nov.
New Species under Phylum Porifera
New Species under Phylum Porifera

This paper reports on a new species of the

Baikal endemic sponge (fam.
Lubomirskiidae) Swartschewskia
khanaevi sp. nov.
New Species under Phylum Cnidaria
New Species under Phylum Cnidaria

Described as new is the genus Acanthosaropathes

and the following species: Antipathes coronata, A.
dicrocrada, A. polyhedra, Acanthosaropathes
uniseriata, Phanopathes ctenocrada,
Cupressopathes simplex, Stylopathes stenotes,
Stauropathes stellata, Telopathes tasmaniensis,
and Heteropathes intricata.
New Species under Phylum Cnidaria
New Species under Phylum Cnidaria

A new species of box jellyfish, Carybdea

wayamba sp. nov. is described here based on
forty specimens collected from the south and
northeast coasts of Sri Lanka, with the type
location being Bonavista Reef, Galle Bay.
 Thank You!
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