Cnidarians differ from sponges in several key ways:
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Tissue Organization: Cnidarians have cells that are organized into true tissues, including muscle and nerve tissues, which allow for more complex behaviors and responses to the environment. In contrast, sponges are considered to be more primitive and lack true tissues; they are made up of specialized cells that perform various functions but do not form organized tissues.
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Body Structure: Both cnidarians and sponges are multicellular, but cnidarians have a more complex body structure with distinct body forms (such as medusa and polyp) and features like a gastrovascular cavity. Sponges have a simpler structure with a porous body that allows water to flow through.
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Mobility: While sponges are primarily sessile (they do not move from one place to another), cnidarians can exhibit some form of movement, particularly in their medusa form (like jellyfish), even though many cnidarians are also benthic (living attached to a surface).
In summary, the key difference that stands out among these options is that cnidarians have cells that are organized into tissues, while sponges do not.