Department of Zoology at ANDC/Zoology Museum/Museum specimens/Porifera/Euplectella

Euplectella

Common name: Venus flower basket

Classification:

Phylum: Porifera

Class: Hexactinellida

Order: Hexasterophora

Genus: Euplectella

Distribution:

Found in abundance near the Philippine island and West Indies.

Habitat:

Found abundantly in deep waters at the depth of 500 to 5,000 meters in slow running water.

Identifying Features

• Long curved, cylindrical body fastened in the mud of sea bottom by a mass of long siliceous root spicules.

• Size of individual varies from 15-30 cm in length and 2-5 cm in diameter.

Common Characters

• Skeleton consists of four and six- rayed siliceous spicules which are interlaced and fused at their tips forming a three dimensional network with parietal gaps.

• Canal system simple leuconoid, having thimble-shaped radial canals.

• Parietal gaps in the in the network of spicules connect with the spongocoel.