Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which animals rely solely on intracellular digestion to obtain nutrients?
A
Cnidarians
B
Annelids
C
Flatworms
D
Sponges
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of intracellular digestion: Intracellular digestion occurs within the cells, where food particles are engulfed by the cell and broken down by enzymes inside lysosomes.
Identify the characteristics of sponges: Sponges are simple, multicellular organisms that lack true tissues and organs. They have a porous body and rely on the flow of water through their bodies to obtain food and oxygen.
Recognize the feeding mechanism of sponges: Sponges use specialized cells called choanocytes to capture food particles from the water. These particles are then engulfed by the cells and digested intracellularly.
Differentiate between intracellular and extracellular digestion: Unlike sponges, other animals like cnidarians and annelids have a digestive cavity where extracellular digestion occurs, meaning digestion happens outside the cells.
Conclude that sponges rely solely on intracellular digestion: Since sponges do not have a digestive cavity and digest food within their cells, they are the only animals in the given list that rely solely on intracellular digestion.