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Porifera: The Phylum Porifera includes the animals commonly known as sponges. This is a diverse group - with about 5000 known species. Most are marine - but around 150 species live in fresh water. Considered the simplest of the animals - the cells of sponges are organized into tissues - but the tissues are not organized into organs. Their bodies are a sort of loose aggregation of different kinds of cells. Sponges are characterized by a unique feeding system involving a system of pores and canals through which water passes. The four Classes of sponges are Calcarea (Calcispongiae) - Hexactinellida (Hyalospongiae) - Demospongiae - and Sclerospongiae (considered by many to be a subclass of Demospongiae). Flora and Fauna Animalia Porifera:  English Science Earth Sciences Paleontology Invertebrates: Sponges Khoyatan Sponge Page - Sponges of The Northeast Pacific - PoriferaScience: Khoyatan, Animalia Porifera Photographs of four Classes of sponges in the Khoyatan Marine Laboratory Sponge Page Sponges of The Northeast Pacific Porifera . Hermit Crab SpongesScience: Hermit, Animalia Porifera An article by Floyd Sandford about the sponges that are carried around by hermit crabs Crab Sponges . The Sponges of British ColumbiaScience: The Sponges, Animalia Porifera Descriptions of sponges by Curt Smecher of British Columbia . Underwater Field Guide to Sponges of Ross Island & McMurdo Sound, Antarctica - PoriferaScience: Underwater, Animalia Porifera Beautiful annotated photographs of sponges Field Guide to Sponges of Ross Island & McMurdo Sound, Antarctica Porifera Porifera, of Antarctica. Introduction to PoriferaScience: Introduction, Animalia Porifera A good start on the biology of sponges to Porifera including phylogeny, life history, and ecology. Phylum Porifera (Sponges) - PoriferaScience: Phylum, Animalia Porifera Description of the sponges and their taxonomy Porifera (Sponges) Porifera from the Animal Diversity Web. Porifera Biology on the WWW - PoriferaScience: Porifera, Animalia Porifera A central clearinghouse for sponge researchers Biology on the WWW Porifera including a porifera listserver bulletin board and who's who in sponge research. Sponge Reefs on the Continental Shelf - PoriferaScience: Sponge, Animalia Porifera · Canadian Geological Survey program to study hexactinellid reefs Reefs on the Continental Shelf Porifera . Animal MagazineFlora and Fauna Animalia - Articles about all kinds of animals Magazine . Animals! The Animal Information Center - PoriferaFlora and Fauna Animalia - A general overview of Kingdom Animalia The Animal Information Center Porifera . ExZOOberanceFlora and Fauna Animalia - A virtual zoo with photo galleries ExZOOberance web cams, news, and a zoo and aquarium directory. Australian Wildlife - PoriferaFlora and Fauna Animalia - Contains a collection of Australian wildlife photographs Wildlife Porifera many taken in the Brisbane area. Audio available on many frog, mammal and bird pages. Indian Fauna - PoriferaFlora and Fauna Animalia - Searchable database that aims to provide accurate taxonomic and associated information about India's 81 Fauna Porifera 000 known animal species. | |||||||