Connections To Other Phyla

Sponges are one of the most primitive animals, and as such, lack many of the typical features of animals including nerves and locomotion. Because of this they have been placed in the group Parazoa, considered a sister taxon to all higher animals (Eumetazoa). Sponges share many characteristics with colonial protists, such as Volvox, though they have a higher degree of cell specialization and interdependence. Even so, if a sponge is placed in a blender, any surviving cells can reform a complete organism. If multiple sponges are blended together, each species will recombine independently (contrast animal chimera such as the geep).