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

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Hyalonema

Date & Time : 25, April 2024 09:27


PSM V03 D546 Glass rope sponge

Classification

Phylum - Porifera

Class - Hexactinellida

Order - Amphidiscophora

Genus - Hyalonema

Common Name

Labelled diagram of HYALONEMA.jpg

Glass rope sponge

Distribution

It is found along new England coast.


Habitat

Hyalonema is a marine form found 10-15 meters deep in sea.

Identifying Characters

  • It has a rounded or oval body with a spirally twisted root tuft.
  • Spicules of root tuft continue through the sponge body as an axis or collumella and projects above as a gastral cone.
  • Root spicules are compact, stalk-like and twisted giving the appearance of a rope.
  • Middle part of collumella has symbiotic polyps.

General Characters

  • Skeleton consists of small amphidisc sspicules which are siliceous in nature.
  • Extending from all over the surface are small, branching, five-rayed spicules.