Porifera, also known as sponges, are a group of aquatic animals that are characterized by the following features:
1. Asymmetrical body: Porifera do not have a distinct front-end or back-end, and their body is not symmetrical.
2. Multicellular: Sponges are multicellular organisms, which means they have more than one cell.
3. Lack true tissues and organs: They do not have true tissues and organs like other animals, but they do have specialized cells that perform specific functions.
4. Filter feeders: They obtain their food and oxygen by filtering water through their bodies, capturing small particles and organisms in the water.
5. Aquatic habitat: Porifera are found in marine and freshwater habitats, typically in shallow water near the shore.
6. Sessile: They are stationary animals that attach themselves to a substrate (e.g. rocks, coral, or shells) and do not move around.
7. Have skeletons: They have a skeleton made of spicules (sharp, needle-like structures) or spongin (a flexible, fibrous protein).
8. Can reproduce asexually and sexually: Porifera can reproduce through asexual budding or sexually by producing eggs and sperm.
9. Variable in size and shape: They can vary in size from a few millimeters to over a meter in length and can have many different shapes and forms.
what are the characteristics of the porifera
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