GENERALZOOLOGYLABORATORY

Exercise No. 5
Parazoans and Simplest Metazoans

INTRODUCTION
Parazoa (meaning “beside” the animal), consists of sponges (Phylum Porifera), while Eumetazoa
(true metazoans) includes all other phyla in the Animal Kingdom. The simplest form of Metazoans include
the Cnidarians (Coelenterates). The Parazoans are multicellular animals without true tissues while the
Metazoans are also multicellular animals but have true tissues. They are diploblastic organisms with two
germ layers in a body type which is closed at one end and open at the other end.

OBJECTIVES:
1. To compare the characteristic features of the Parazoans and the simplest form of Metazoans
2. To describe the structural features of the representative animal under each phylum.

MATERIALS: Specimen target: Hydra/ Obelia; Leucosolenia/Grantia; Spicules;

Bath Sponge; Venus flower basket corals

A. Phylum Porifera (pore bearing) - constitute the simplest of multicellular animal (metazoans). Possessed
a microvillar collars surround flagella, with units arising from either single cells or syncytia. Like
Placozoans and unlike almost any other metazoans, sponges lack nerves and have no true
musculature. All sponges feed on food particles suspended in the water. No specialized reproductive,
digestive, respiratory, sensory or excretory organs either; indeed, no organs are found at all. The body
has many pores called ostia and consists of a single loose tissue structure supported by a framework
of minute or microscopic rods or spicules. Adult forms are sessile or attached to the substratum but
their larvae are free swimming. Less than 2% are found in freshwater, the remaining 98% of the
species being marine. They reproduce sexually by fertilization and asexually by forming buds or
gemmules. Sponges possessed three basic level of construction: asconoid, syconoid, and leoconoid.
Based on their skeletal system or spicules, sponges are classified into:

Class Calcarea (Calcareous sponges) - Spicules composed only of CaCO3. All three types of
construction occur in this class. Indeed, the only living asconoid forms are found among the
Calcarea.
Class Demospongiae (Siliceous sponges) - Largest class, nearly all of leuconoid construction.
Spicules composed of spondin and/or silica, but never of CaCO3.
Class Hexatinellida (Glass sponges) – Bodies are supported entirely by interconnected 6-rayed
spicules of silica and chitin. Some species live in soft sediment, others found attached to solid
substratum.

Procedure:

1. External Anatomy of Sponges

 Observe the specimen of Venus flower basket Euplectella sp. It belongs to Hexactinellida which is
often large with glassy skeleton of silicon materials. Examine the bases of the available sponges. Are they
attached to some objects or do they show evidence of having been attached? What are their skeletal
elements? Secure the prepared slides of sponges spicules. Take note of the different forms.
2. Canal System (construction) of the Sponges
Examine the Leucosolenia and/or Grantia viewed under the microscope (LPO). These will show you
the organization of sponges having the ascon and sycon types of canal systems. Move the slide to identify
the spongocoel, radial canals, incurrent canals, ostia, choanocytes, and mesenchyme.

B. Phylum Cnidaria (Coelenterata)

The Cnidarians (formerly Coelenterates) are the simplest animal with tissues organized for specific
function. Their unique characteristic is the presence of stinging cells called nematocysts and a planula
larvae in the life cycle. They have gastrovascular cavity surrounded by two cell layers with mesoglea
between. They either occur separate or in colonies. Asexual reproduction is by budding while sexual
reproduction is by formation of gametes. The individual types are the attached vegetative polyp and the
free swimming medusa. Colonial types have alternation of sexual and asexual generation. They are
classified into:

Class Scyphozoa (cup animals) - all marine, free swimming (medusa). Solitary, bell-shaped medusa
present; polyps reduced or absent (Ex. Aurelia, Cassiopeia - jelly fishes)
Class Cubozoa (cube animals) - solitary, polyp stage reduced, all marine (Ex. Chironex -sea wasp)
Class Hydrozoa (water animals) - both marine and freshwater in habitat; sessile. Solitary or
colonial, if present, medusa lacks velum; polyps with partitional cavity (Ex. Hydra, Obelia) Class
Anthozoa - polyps; all marine. Colonial or solitary; no medusa; cavity is subdivided by 6, 8 or more
longitudinal partitions (Ex. Corals, sea anemone)

Procedure:
1. Hydra
Examine the Hydra under the LPO of a compound microscope or under the dissecting microscope.
Note the cell layers, the gastrovascular cavity and the internal structures.
2. Obelia: a colonial hydroid
Note the external features and the individual members of the colony, the hydranths and the
gonangium. Observe that the hydranths with tentacles are more numerous, the immature ones appear
with rounded ends. Note the upright stem and the rootlike horizontal stalks extending over the surface
on which the colony is attached. Locate the different polyps and study their characteristic features. The
common slender stem of the colony continues upward to the body of the hydranths. Also note that the
cell layers and the cavity of the hydranths are continuous throughout the branched and the rootlike
extensions. Locate the gonangium. How does it differ from the hyranth? Note the blastostyle and the
numerous medusa buds attached to it.

REFERENCES:

Arai, M.N. 1997. A functional biology of Scyphozoa. London: Chapman and Hall.
Leys, S.P., G.O. Mackie, and H.M. Reiswig. 2007. The biology of glass sponge. Adv. Mar. Biol. 52:1-145.
Nichois, S., and G. Worheide. 2005. Sponges: New views of old animals. Integr. Comp. Biol. 45:333-34.
Wisehart, G., Rempala, E., and Leboffe, M. 2012. A photographic atlas of marine biology. ISBN: 978-
089582-785-2. Morton Publishing Company
Wuirr, J.L. 2006. Ecological interactions of marine sponges. Can. J. Zool. 84:146-66.
GENERALZOOLOGYLABORATORY

Name: ALEXA JEAN D. HONREJAS Section:ABMI2

Lab Instructor/Professor: MRS. DAWN FAJARDO Date Submitted: 05-06-22

Exercise No. 5 Parazoans and

Simplest Metazoans

Answer as directed:

1. There are three main body morphologies/ water canal systems among sponges. Label and
2. How are sponge spicules secreted by sclerocytes?
In sponges they produce spicules, which are found in the mesophyll layer of the sponge.
Spicules are formed via formation of a cellular triad and undergo mitosis.

3. No one has ever demonstrated nerve tissue in any sponges. Nevertheless, in some species
there is evidence of cooperation among different areas of the sponge, resulting in locomotion
and in the regulation of water flow through the animal. What is the evidence for such internal
coordination, and through what mechanisms might it be accomplished in the absence of
nerve cells?
Sponges are amorphous, asymmetrical marine creatures with no specialized
reproductive, digestive, respiratory, sensory or excretory organs. An adult sponge has
no anterior, posterior and oral surfaces. A simplest form of sponge has perforated bag
lined with flagellated cell. Sclerocytes are specialized cells that secrete spicules in
sponges. Spicule help in maintaining the shape of a sponge, protect against predators
and helps in species identification. These archeocytes have many important functions
including a role in eliminating wastes and secreting supporting elements. Calcareous
spicules found in sponges Calcarea, are composed of calcium carbonate in crystalline
forms, while siliceous ones are made of silicic acid.

4. Based upon your knowledge of sponge biology and the properties of water and air, why are
there no terrestrial sponges?
Sponges are asymmetrical, amorphous aquatic animals with no specific
reproductive, digestive, respiratory, sensory, or excretory organs. Adult sponges do
not have anterior, posterior, or oral surfaces. The most basic type of sponge contains
a perforated bag lined with flagellated cells.

5. In Cnidarians, some form of asexual reproduction is encountered among all three classes.
What are the adaptive benefits of asexual versus sexual reproduction?
The phylum's constituents Cnidaria are also referred to as cnidarians. They are the most
basic higher creatures, with two different body forms: medusa and polyp. The medusa
form is a free-living, swimming creature, whereas the polyp is a sessile body type.
6. In a separate paper, draw and label the structures of the following:
a. Jellyfis
b. Hydra
c. Obelia
Generalization/Conclusion:

Mesoza and parazoa are multicellular but lack of germ layers of eumatazoa. They have
a cellular level of organization. Animal phyla are classified according to certain criteria,
including the type of coelom, symmetry, body plan, and presence of segmentation.
Sponges have a primitive cellular level organization and lack tissues and symmetrty.

References:

https://www.chegg.com/homework-help/biology-of-the-invertebrates-7th-edition-chapter-4-
solutions-9780073524184
https://www.chegg.com/homework-help/form-asexual-reproduction-encountered-among-3-
classes-cnidar-chapter-6-problem-10tfd-solution-9780073524184-exc