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Tips for Teachers: Are sponge species older than mollusc species?
No, sponge species are not necessarily older than mollusc species simply because their phylum is more basal. The phylum Porifera evolved from a common ancestor (likely choanoflagellates) earlier in evolutionary time than other groups. However, evolution by natural selection continues to occur across taxa. A new sponge species might have evolved (speciated) more recently than some given mollusc species.
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