Zoremsanga

Roll No – 65

ZOOLOGY PROJECT : CANAL SYSTEM IN PORIFERA

INTRODUCTION :- The water circulatory system of sponges also called as canal

system is the characteristic feature of the phylum Porifera. Canal system is also known as
aquiferous system. The canal system of sponges helps in food acquisition, respiratory gas
exchange and also in excretion.
The numerous perforations on the body of the sponges for ingression and
egression of water are the main constituents of the canal system inside the body, the
water current flows through a certain system of spaces where by the food is captured
from the incoming water and the excretory material is sent out into the outgoing water.

TYPES OF CANAL SYSTEM :- The canal system is devided into the following
types.

(1) Ascon Type :- It is the simplest type of Canal system. It is exhibited by sponges
like Olynthus and Leucosolenia. These animals are cylindrical in shape. The body wall is
formed of three layers, namely an outer ectoderm, a middle merenchyme & an
inner choanocytes. The wall contains many pores called Ostia. These pores are intra-
cellular because each pore is formed by the perforation of a single cell called Porocyte.
All the ostia open into a central cavity called Spongocoel which is outside at the free end
& by a large circular opening called Osculam. The beating of the flagella of the
choanocytes creates a water current.
The water flows in the following route. Ostia → Spongocoel → Osculam
(2) Sycon Type :- The syconoid type of canal system represents the transitional grade
between the simplest ascon type and more complex ones. The first step above the
asconoid type of canal system is represented by the syconoid type of canal system.

The Sycon type of canal system is seen in sopnges like Sycon (Grantia), Sycetla
etc. There are two types of sycon type canal system. They are-
(a) Sycon type without Cortex (b) Sycon type with Cortex.

(A) Sycon Type without Cortex :- It is found in Sycetla. It is derived from the
ascon type by the development of many finger- like, outgrowths on the surface. These
finger like outgrowth on the surface. These finger like outgrowths are called Canals.
These canals are lined with Choanocytes. But the spongocoel is lined with ectoderm.
Between the radial canals there is another canal called incurrent canal. The incurrent
canalsopen into the radial by minute pores canal Prosopyles. The radial canals open into
spongocoel opening called apophles. The spongocoel opens outside by the Osculam. The
water flows through the following route-

Incurrent canal →Prosopyle → Radial canal → Apopyle → Spongocoel → Osculam

(B) Sycon Type with Cortex :- This type is found in Sycon or Grantia. In addition to
the previous type it has four additional features. They are as follows-

(i) The epidermis and Mesenchyme spread over the outer surface so as to form a cortex.

(ii) The free end of incurrent canals open to the outside by minute pores called dermal
ostia.

(iii) The incurrent canal opens into the radial canal by openings called Prosopyles.

(iv) The radial canal opens into spongocoel by openings called apopyles.

In this type the water flows through the following route-

Dermal Ostia → Incurrent Canal → Prosopyle → Radial Canal → Apopyle →

Spongocoel → Osculam
3. Leucon Type : In this type of canal system the choanocyte lining of radial canals
evaginates into many small chambers which repeat the same process to give rise to a
cluster of small flagellated chambers. In many cases dermal pores open into subdermal
spaces. The subdermal space and incurrent canals lead into the small rounded flagellated
chamber through an opening, termed as prosophyle. The flagellated chambers open by
apopyles into excurrent canals which form large tubes. The largest one leads to osculum.
Few gradations of leuconoid type of canal system are seen in sponges.
This type of canal system has varying degree of complexity of canals and based on
that it can be classified into the following three types:

 Eurypyloustype: In this type, the flagellated chambers communicate directly by

broad apertures called theapopyles, with the excurrent canals. Incurrent canal
brings water into the flagellate chamber throughprosopyle. E.g. Plakina

 Aphodaltype: In this type, the apopyle is drawn out as a narrow canal,

called aphodus, which connects the flagellated chamber with excurrent canal. Here
also incurrent canal brings water into the flagellate chamber. E.g. Geodia.
  Diplodaltype: In some sponges, besides aphodus, another narrow tube, called
prosodus, is present between incurrent canal and flagellated chamber.
E.g., Spongilla and Oscarella.

References :
1. Dhami R.S. & J.K Dhami 1970 INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY 5th Edition.Mehra
Offset Press, New Delhi-110001.
2.Jordan E.L &P. S. Verma 1963 INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY 12th Edition. S.
Chand & Company Ltd. New Delhi-110055.