Noncnidarians

Noncnidarians are a group of marine invertebrates that belong to the phylum Cnidaria. However, unlike cnidarians, which are characterized by their possession of cnidocytes, noncnidarians do not have these specialized cells, which are responsible for the stinging or harpooning of prey.

Noncnidarians are typically soft-bodied and are found in a variety of marine environments, including shallow tide pools and the deep sea. They are often attached to rocks, coral, or other surfaces, and feed on small invertebrates, plankton, or other organic matter.

The noncnidarians include two main groups: the subkingdom Allozoa and the subkingdom Parazoa. The Allozoa includes organisms such as sponges and enidarians, whereas the Parazoa comprises theaco-masocrines. Sponges are arguably the most ancient multicellular organisms, with fossil records dating back over 580 million years.

Sponges are filters feeders, utilizing tiny pores, known as oscula, to draw in water. They are attached to a surface by specialized cells known as choanocytes, which create currents to draw water into the sponge. Enidarians and theaco-masocrines exhibit diverse forms of sexual reproduction. Examples of paraçóes include sharks, rays, and moray eels.