Which of the following is one of the ten animal phyla listed?

Which of the following is one of the ten animal phyla listed?

• A. Porifera
• B. Plantae
• C. Fungi
• D. Protista

Answer: (A)

Recognizing major animal lineages means knowing which groups are considered phyla within Animalia. Porifera, the sponges, fits as one of those animal phyla. Sponges are multicellular animals, but they have a very simple body plan and lack true tissues and organs. Despite this simplicity, they develop and function as part of the animal kingdom, distinguishing them from non-animal kingdoms and grouping them with other animal phyla. Plantae includes plants that perform photosynthesis and have different cell structures, fungi form a separate kingdom that absorbs nutrients, and Protista is an old grouping for diverse mostly microscopic organisms that are not classified within Animalia. Therefore Porifera is the correct choice because it is an animal phylum.

Recognizing major animal lineages means knowing which groups are considered phyla within Animalia. Porifera, the sponges, fits as one of those animal phyla. Sponges are multicellular animals, but they have a very simple body plan and lack true tissues and organs. Despite this simplicity, they develop and function as part of the animal kingdom, distinguishing them from non-animal kingdoms and grouping them with other animal phyla.

Plantae includes plants that perform photosynthesis and have different cell structures, fungi form a separate kingdom that absorbs nutrients, and Protista is an old grouping for diverse mostly microscopic organisms that are not classified within Animalia. Therefore Porifera is the correct choice because it is an animal phylum.