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Webster 1913 Edition

Porifera

‖

Po-rif′e-ra

,

Noun.

pl.

[NL., fr. L.

porus

pore +

ferre

to bear.]

(Zool.)

A grand division of the Invertebrata, including the sponges; – called also

Spongiæ

,

Spongida

, and

Spongiozoa

. The principal divisions are Calcispongiæ, Keratosa or Fibrospongiæ, and Silicea.