Poriferans are commonly referred to as sponges.

An early branching event in the history of animals

separated the sponges from other metazoans. As one
would expect based on their phylogenetic position,
fossil sponges are among the oldest known animal
fossils, dating from the Late Precambrian. Since then,
sponges have been conspicuous members of many
fossil communities; the number of described fossil
genera exceeds 900. The approximately 5,000 living
sponge species are classified in the phylum Porifera,
which is composed of three distinct groups, the
Hexactinellida (glass sponges), the Demospongia, and
the Calcarea (calcareous sponges).
Sponges are characterized by the possession of a
feeding system unique among animals. Poriferans
don't have mouths; instead, they have tiny pores in
their outer walls through which water is drawn. Cells
in the sponge walls filter goodies from the water as
the water is pumped through the body and out other
larger openings. The flow of water through the
sponge is unidirectional, driven by the beating of
flagella which line the surface of chambers connected
by a series of canals. Sponge cells perform a variety
of bodily functions and appear to be more
independent of each other than are the cells of other
animals.