"Choanoflagellida" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
The Choanoflagellida are a group of protozoa that are characterized by the presence of a flagellum (a whip-like structure used for movement) and a collar (a ring-shaped structure surrounding the cell's cytoplasm). They are considered to be the closest living relatives of animals and are thought to have given rise to the first animals.
A choanocyte is a type of cell found in sponges, which are simple multicellular animals. It is a specialized collar cell that has the ability to capture small particles of food from the water. The choanocytes are lined up in a channel called the spongocoel, which runs through the center of the sponge. They use their flagella to create a flow of water, drawing particles towards their cell bodies.