Porifera

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Spongiae \Spon"gi*ae\ (sp[o^]n"j[i^]*[=e]), n. pl. [See
     {Sponge}.] (Zool.)
     The grand division of the animal kingdom which includes the
     sponges; -- called also {Spongida}, {Spongiaria},
     {Spongiozoa}, and {Porifera}.
     [1913 Webster]


  
     Note: In the Spongiae, the soft sarcode of the body is
           usually supported by a skeleton consisting of horny
           fibers, or of siliceous or calcareous spicules. The
           common sponges contain larger and smaller cavities and
           canals, and numerous small ampullae which are lined
           with ciliated cells capable of taking in solid food.
           The outer surface usually has minute pores through
           which water enters, and large openings for its exit.
           Sponges produce eggs and spermatozoa, and the egg when
           fertilized undergoes segmentation to form a ciliated
           embryo.
           [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Porifera \Po*rif"e*ra\, n. pl. [NL., fr. L. porus pore + ferre
     to bear.] (Zool.)
     A grand division of the Invertebrata, including the sponges;
     -- called also {Spongi[ae]}, {Spongida}, and {Spongiozoa}.
     The principal divisions are Calcispongi[ae], Keratosa or
     Fibrospongi[ae], and Silicea.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  Porifera
       n : coextensive with the subkingdom Parazoa: sponges [syn: {phylum
           Porifera}]