In this article we will discuss about the structure of Euplectella with the help of a diagram.
1. It is a marine sponge found in deep waters in Pacific oceans near West Indies and Philippines islands.
2. Commonly called “Venus-flower basket” by local inhabitants.
3. The body is tubular, curved and basket-like and is made up of triaxon spicules.
4. At the base is present a bunch of glassy spicules for attachment.
5. Body perforated by numerous apertures, which are not true ostia but simply parietal gaps.
6. Canal system syconoid type, where ostia communicate with incurrent canals, which communicates with radial canals through prosopyles which, in-turn, open into spongocoel and to outside through osculum.
7. Osculum is covered over by a sieve plate.
8. Radial canals are lined with choanocytes.
9. In the spongocoel often live a pair of decapod symbionts- Spongicola venusta, which never escape out of it and die inside.
10. Dried skeleton is presented in marriages in Japan. It is also used for drawing-room decorations.
11. Reproduction both asexual and sexual.