Question

The glass sponge Euplectella belongs to class of
a. Demospongiae
b. Hexactinellida
c. Calcarea
d. Hydrozoa

Answer 1

The glass sponge is named so because of its intricate glass-like skeletal structures. It is most commonly called the ‘ venus flower basket ‘. The euplectella aspergillum is a glass sponge in the phylum Porifera. The body is composed of silica in the form of 6 pointed spicules.

Complete step by step answer: Glass sponges in the class Hexactinellida are animals commonly found in the deep ocean. Hexa means six. Their tissue contains glass-like structural particles, called spicules, that are made up of silica. This skeleton of the glass sponge, together with other various chemicals provides defense against many predators. These glass sponges are pale in color and are cup or basket-shaped.
-Demospongiae: demospongiae are the most diverse class in the phylum Porifera. They are sponges with
a soft body that covers a hard, often massive skeleton made up of calcium carbonate, either aragonite
or calcite.
-Calcarea: these are cellular sponges. While the spicules are entirely made up of calcium carbonate
spicules. They are usually dull in colour.
-Hydrozoa: Hydrozoa is a taxonomic class of individually very small predatory animals. They live in
freshwater. These organisms are related to jellyfish and corals and belong to phylum Cnidaria. The most famous glass sponge is a species of Euplectella, known as the Venus flower basket belonging to
the class of Hexactinellida.
Hence, the correct answer is Option B

Note: Some species of glass sponge produce extremely large spicules that fuse together in beautiful patterns to form a glass house – a complex skeleton that remains intact even after the death of the sponge. Hexantinelid sponges are sponges with a skeleton made up of siliceous spicules, which are often referred to as glass sponges in the phylum Porifera.