NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The phylum Porifera comprises the sponges. Sponges are simple invertebrate animals that live in aquatic habitats. Although the majority of sponges are marine, some species live in freshwater lakes and streams. They are found in shallow ocean environments to depths as great as five kilometers (km).

Detailed explanation-2: -Sponges belong to phylum Porifera based on their characteristics, including that they are invertebrates, are made of cells that are not organized into true tissues and they have porous bodies through which water is able to flow. Sponges are the only members of Porifera.

Detailed explanation-3: -Phylum Porifera are the lowest multicellular animals belonging to the kingdom Animalia. The word “Porifera” mainly refers to the pore bearers or pore bearing species. Based on the embryological studies, sponges are proved as animals and are classified into a separate Phylum in animals.

Detailed explanation-4: -Sponges constitute the phylum Porifera, and have been defined as sessile metazoans (multicelled immobile animals) that have water intake and outlet openings connected by chambers lined with choanocytes, cells with whip-like flagella.

Detailed explanation-5: -So, the correct answer is ‘Porifera’.