Poriferan evolution from protozoans is evidenced by animals such as
Correct Answer :
Volvox
Solution :
The correct option is Volvox.
To understand why this is correct, we can analyze the evolutionary transition from unicellular protozoans to multicellular animals (metazoans), particularly the sponges (Phylum Porifera):
1. The Evolutionary Link:
Sponges (Poriferans) are the simplest multicellular animals. Evolutionary biologists study how multicellularity arose from single-celled eukaryotic ancestors (protozoans). The leading theory is the colonial hypothesis, which suggests that multicellular organisms evolved from colonial flagellated protozoans.
2. The Role of Volvox:
Volvox is a genus of chlorophyte green algae that forms spherical colonies. Each colony is composed of thousands of flagellated cells resembling unicellular flagellates. Within a Volvox colony, cells exhibit division of labor (specialization of somatic and reproductive cells) and coordination, which represents a critical transitional step from a simple cluster of independent single cells to a true multicellular organism.
3. Comparing with other options:
- Paramecium and Euglena are strictly unicellular, solitary protozoans and do not form colonies or exhibit multicellular organization.
- Chlamydomonas is also a unicellular green alga. While it is structurally similar to the individual cells that make up a Volvox colony, it remains single-celled and does not show the colonial multicellular organization that demonstrates the transition to metazoans.
Therefore, colonial forms like Volvox provide the best evolutionary evidence for how multicellular Poriferans could have evolved from unicellular protozoan ancestors.
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