Entities › Animals and other organisms › No neurons

Sponge

Porifera (e.g. Amphimedon queenslandica)

An animal with no neurons or synapses that still contracts its whole body in a coordinated way.

Neurons

0 measured · no neurons or synapses

Leys SP (2015) Elements of a 'nervous system' in sponges. J Exp Biol 218(4):581-591. doi:10.1242/jeb.110817.

Evidence

• Sponges have no neurons or synapses, but they coordinate whole-body contractions (for example, 'sneezing') with non-neuronal signalling.
  Leys SP (2015) Elements of a 'nervous system' in sponges. J Exp Biol 218(4):581-591. doi:10.1242/jeb.110817.

Assess it against the published criteria