Sponges belong to which one among the following phylum ?

Sponges are scientifically classified under the phylum Porifera. They are considered the simplest multicellular organisms in the animal kingdom. The name Porifera refers to their porous body structure, which allows for water filtration. This phylum is further divided into distinct classes based on their skeletal composition, such as Calcarea (calcareous sponges), Hexactinellida (glass sponges), and Demospongiae [2]. Unlike other phyla mentioned, such as Cnidaria (which includes jellyfish and corals) or Platyhelminthes (flatworms), poriferans lack true tissues, muscles, and a nervous system. There are approximately 8,550 living species of sponges, with some fossil records dating back nearly 600 million years. In India, sponges are also recognized and protected under Schedule 3 of the Wildlife Protection Act [1].

Sources

1. [2] https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/sponge.html
2. [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > Schedule 3 and schedule 4 > p. 171