Classification of Hyalonema
- Phylum :- Porifera (Pore bearing, cellular grade, asymmetrical or radially symmetrical)
- Class :- HexactineIlida (Marine glass sponges with siliceous spicules of triaxon or six-pointed type)
- Order :- Amphidiscophora (Hexaster spicules absent; amphidiscs present and skeleton mainly of diactins)
- Family: Hyalonematidae (Deep-sea sponges with long root tuft of spicules anchoring them to sediment)
- Genus :- Hyalonema (Glass rope sponges with a bundle of twisted root spicules, forming stalk-like structure)
Habit and habitat
- Hyalonema is marine animal, found 60 to 95 fathoms deep
Distribution
- Found along new England coast.
General Characterstics
- Commonly called as glassrope sponge.
- Body is spherical or ovoidal and axially traversed by a bundle of long spicules.
- Spicules are often fused to form a lattice-like skeleton, giving the sponge a glasslike appearance when dried.
- Glass sponges are most symmetrical and most individualized. Body is cup or vase-shaped measuring 10 to 30 cm in height.
- Spongocoel is well developed. Osculum contains sieve plate.
- Stick or-columella is composed of a root tuft or root spicules which acts as hold fast organ.
- Root spicules are compact, stalk like elongated, twisted and giving the appearance of a rope.
- The middle columella contains symbiotic polyps (Epizoanthus).
- It possesses large and small amphidisk spicules like fresh-water sponges. Entire body contains small, branching, six-rayed spicules resembling Christmas trees on cross-shaped bases.
- When the upper surface of the sponge is depressed, spongocoel IS formed and excurrent canals open into it but when columella is projected into gastral cone, no spongocoel exists.
- Flagellated chambers are arranged radially and in parallel planes in the sponge wall.
Identification
- Since the specimen has glossy root tuft, large osculum, ostia symbiotic polyps and all above features hence it is Hyalonema.