Yes, sponges are multicellular organisms.
Sponges, belonging to the phylum Porifera in the kingdom Animalia, are indeed made up of multiple cells. This characteristic aligns them with other animals in terms of their cellular organization. According to the provided reference, sponge bodies consist of specialized cells such as:
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Choanocytes: These are flagellated collar cells that line the interior of sponges and help circulate water and capture food particles.
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Pinacocytes: These are flattened cells that form the outer layer of the sponge, providing a protective barrier.
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Amoebocytes: These are mobile cells that perform various functions, including transporting nutrients, differentiating into other cell types, and producing skeletal elements like spicules.
Therefore, the presence of these diverse and specialized cell types definitively establishes that sponges are multicellular.
