Phylum Porifera Characteristics
Members in Phylum Porifera have cellular level of organization. They are mostly marine and are usually asymmetrical and sessile. They have two types of cells, which are choanocytes and amoebocytes. Members of this Phylum can have skeletons made of either spicules or spongin. There are three body plans in this Phylum: Asconoid, Syconoid, Leuconoid.
Class Calcarea
Members in Class Calcarea have calcium spicules and usually possess all three types of body plans (asconoid, synconoid, and leuconoid).
Class Hexactinellida
Members in Class Hexactinellida have silica spicules and usually possess two types of body plans (syconoid and leuconoid).
Class Demospongiae
Members in Class Demospongiae have silica spicules in addition to having spongin. They only have possess one body plan (leuconoid).
Phylum Porifera 