2. Characteristics Sponges Cnidarians
Phylum Porifera Cnidaria
Animal x x
Invertebrates x x
Species 5,000+ 9,000+
Symmetry Assymetrical Radial
Aquatic (marine and freshwater) x x
Movement Sessile (adult) / free swimmers Sessile (adult) / free
(larvae) swimmers (larvae, adult)
Variety of colors, shapes and x x
sizes
Sexual and asexual reproduction x x
Layers 2 layers Endoderm / ectoderm
(embryonic stage)
Has no… Tissues > organs > organ system: Central nervous system (does
Nervous, digestive, muscular or have a nerve net)
circulatory systems.
*
5. * Sponges * Cnidarians
* Asexually – fragmentation, budding * Asexually – budding. Polyp or
or formation of gemmule. medusa stage.
* Sexually – Hermaphrodite. Internal * Sexually – one phase of the life
/ external fertilization cycle. Polyp (if no medusa stage
occurs) or medusa stage. External
fertilization.
*
6. * Sponge * Cnidarians
* No digestive system * Prey captured by
* Filter feeding nematocyst brought to the
mouth by contraction of
tentacles and then to the
gastrovascular cavity.
*
7. * Sponge * Sponge
* No nervous system * No nervous system
* Nerve net
*