Question

How do poriferan animals differ from coelenterate animals?

Answer 1

Hint: Primarily, the animals of these two phyla differ in the level of organization of their bodies. Also, the animals belonging to the former group are considered to be more primitive and less developed than later.

Complete answer:
The differences between the poriferan animals and coelenterate animals have been listed in the table below –

Sl. No.	Poriferans	Coelenterates
1.	These are multicellular organisms but have a cellular grade of organization.	These are multicellular organisms with tissue grade of organization.
2.	These animals are generally marine and mostly asymmetrical.	These are also mostly marine but here the symmetry is radial.
3.	These organisms possess a water transport system which is known as a canal system.	These animals do not have a canal system but have a gastro-vascular cavity with a single opening, known as hypostome.
4.	The mode of digestion is only intracellular in these organisms.	Here, the mode of digestion can be both extracellular and intracellular.
5.	Poriferans have special types of cells that line the central body cavity and the canals, these cells are called Choanocytes or collar cells.	These organisms have cnidoblasts or cnidocytes on the tentacles and body which have stinging capsules.
6.	The skeleton in poriferans is made up of spongin fibers that are also called spicules.	Calcium carbonate is the main constituent of the skeleton of these organisms.
7.	Sycon, Spongilla, and Euspongia are some of the examples of Poriferans.	Organisms like Physalia, Adamsia, Pennatula, Gorgonia, and Meandrina are examples of coelenterates.

Note:
-Coelenterates or cnidarians are found in two body forms – Polyp and Medusa. Here, the polyp form is sessile and cylindrical and the best example of this form is Hydra. The other form Medusa is free-swimming and umbrella-shaped is represented by Jellyfish.
-There is an alternation of generation between the two forms of cnidarians in which polyps produce medusa asexually which medusa produces polyps sexually.

Fig.- Sponge Fig.- Jellyfish