Glass sponge
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
| Hexactinellid |
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| Scientific Classification |
| Orders |
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Subclass Amphidiscophora
Subclass Hexasterophora
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The Hexactinellid also known as the Glass sponge, which belong to the phylum Porifera along with other sponges.
Contents |
Anatomy
The Glass sponge has no organ system or tissues. The glass sponge has no outside covering to protect them, but they do have a skeleton with a six-rayed spicules made of silica. Some of the sponges can get as tall as 10 - 30 cm tall; others more than 6 feet (1.8 m).
Reproduction
Ecology
The Hexactinellid sponge is known today to live in deep waters. The 500 species today are mostly found from deep waters "200 to 2000 meters." The Hexactinellid is mostly found in Antarctica because that is where they are more abundant. The Glass Sponge eats microscopic sea creatures known as phytoplankton.
When the Glass Sponge dies, the tissue falls apart, the skeleton remains to rise to the surface.
One interesting fact is that the Japanese like to use them in their wedding ceremonies as symbols of two people joining together happily, just like the sea creatures living inside the glass sponge.
Gallery
 Extremely large Hexactinellid. |
 Venus flower basket |
 Glass spongee found at a depth of more than 1,500 ft. |
Related References
- Hexactinellida: Life History and Ecology UC Berkeley
- Hexactinellid Wikipedia
- Sponge goes man-made fiber optics one better By Dan Vergano, USA TODAY. 8/21/2003.
See Also
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