The table below represents a list of

Animal	Larval Stage
a. Sponges	i. Cercariae
b. Cnidarian	ii. Amphiblastula
c. Flatworms	iii. Planula

animals and their larval stages:
​​Which one of the following options represents the combination of all correct matches?​

Correct option is C

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1. Sponges (Porifera)

   • The characteristic larval stage of sponges is Amphiblastula.
   • Amphiblastula is a free-swimming larva found in many sponge species.
   • Plays a key role in spore dispersal and development into an adult sponge.
   • Correct match: a-ii (Sponges → Amphiblastula). 

2. Cnidarians (e.g., Jellyfish, Corals, Hydra)

   • The Planula larva is the typical larval form in Cnidarians (e.g., jellyfish and corals).
   • The Planula is a ciliated, free-swimming larval stage that settles and develops into a polyp.
   • Correct match: b-iii (Cnidarian → Planula). 

3. Flatworms (Platyhelminthes, e.g., Trematodes and Flukes)

   • Many parasitic flatworms (e.g., trematodes) have a Cercariae larval stage.
   • Cercariae are free-swimming larval forms that emerge from an intermediate host and infect their final host.
   • Infective stage that leaves the intermediate host (usually a snail) to enter the final host (e.g., humans in Schistosoma).
   • Correct match: c-i (Flatworms → Cercariae). 

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