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Sponges represent one of the simplest animal body plans. Their bodies lack true tissues and organs. Which feature of sponge cells supports its classification under the animal kingdom? (i) Absence of mitochondria (ii) Ability to photosynthesise (iii) Presence of a cell membrane (iv) Presence of a cell wall
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Answer: (iii) Presence of a cell membrane
- Animal cells have only a cell membrane and no cell wall ; sponge cells share this feature.
- Photosynthesis and a cell wall would suggest plants; mitochondria are present in nearly all eukaryotes, so those options do not support animal classification.
Option
Does it support Animalia?
(i) Absence of mitochondria
✗ No — sponge cells are eukaryotic and do have mitochondria.
(ii) Ability to photosynthesise
✗ No — sponges are heterotrophic; they filter food particles from water.
(iii) Presence of a cell membrane
✓ Yes — animal cells have a cell membrane and no cell wall, which places sponges in Animalia.
(iv) Presence of a cell wall
✗ No — a cell wall is a plant, fungal or bacterial feature, not an animal feature.
