Calcifibrospongiidae is a family of sponges belonging to the order Haplosclerida. The order Haplosclerida is distinguished by isodictyal skeleton (mesh shaped fibres). In general, Porifera are basal animals with bodies full of pores and channels. Calcifibrospongiidae includes the species Calcifibrospongia actinostromarioides. There have only been ten recorded occurrences of this species: in Hogsty Reef and San Salvador, as well as in the subtropics of the Bahamas.
Calcifibrospongiidae | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Porifera |
Class: | Demospongiae |
Order: | Haplosclerida |
Family: | Calcifibrospongiidae |
Calcifibrospongiidae are sclerosponges, with a basal skeleton made out of calcium carbonate, which encloses the sponge tissue. Scelorsponge skeletons are polyphyletic, causing this family to be classified because of its spicule skeleton. [1] Sclerosponges are relict forms of sponges that originated from Paleozoic groups. They have derived from two possible sources; the first being from the demosponges during the Paleozoic and in recent ages diverged into several other groups or from lineages of demosponges that came together through hypercalcification. [2]
The sponge is orange in color, hard, and possesses an encrusting plate. [3] The sponge is described to be tannish-orange underwater in ambient light and reddish-orange at surface level. [4] It is mushroom-shaped, with a smooth surface. [5] It is covered in oscules which are regularly scattered to provide a means for water to pass through. Additionally, the organism’s spicules are siliceous strongyles and reticulate in shape. [1] The siliceous strongyles are held together by spongin fibres and the calcareous skeleton sits around this structure. This skeleton supports the soft parts of the sponge. [6]
Calcifibrospongiidae are hermaphroditic, meaning they contain both male and female reproductive organs. They reproduce sexually, whereby the spermatocysts escape from the sponge via the osculum. [7] Sponges of the same species then capture the sperm and transport them to the eggs of the sponge via archaeocytes. Fertilization takes place in the mesenchyme of the sponge. They then produce zygotes that develop into free-swimming parenchymella larvae. [7] These larvae then settle on a substrate and grow into their adult sponge form. [8]
The sponge is sciaphilous, which means it is tolerant of shade. To date, the shallowest specimen found was collected on a reef at Acklins island in the Bahamas at a depth of 30 m (98 ft) by W.M. Goldberg. It was described as large (60–90 cm (20–40 in) across and 30 cm (10 in) high). The largest specimen found was found 1.6 km (1 mi) south of Lucaya, Grand Bahama at 77 m (253 ft) in depth. [4]
Calcifibrospongiidae feed through filter feeding. They transfer nutrients that are suspended in the water surrounding them and filter out the nutrients they do not want. Poriferans feed on plankton and organic particles. [9]
It has not been recorded whether or not Calcifibrospongiidae are able to move, although the larvae are motile. [7]
Leucosolenida is an order of sponges in the class Calcarea and the subclass Calcaronea. Species in the order Leucosolenida are calcareous, with a skeleton composed exclusively of free spicules without calcified non-spicular reinforcements.
Demosponges (Demospongiae) are the most diverse class in the phylum Porifera. They include greater than 90% of all species of sponges with nearly 8,800 species worldwide. They are sponges with a soft body that covers a hard, often massive skeleton made of calcium carbonate, either aragonite or calcite. They are predominantly leuconoid in structure. Their "skeletons" are made of spicules consisting of fibers of the protein spongin, the mineral silica, or both. Where spicules of silica are present, they have a different shape from those in the otherwise similar glass sponges. Some species, in particular from the Antarctic, obtain the silica for spicule building from the ingestion of siliceous diatoms.
Minchinellidae is a family of calcareous sponges, members of the class Calcarea. It is the only family in the monotypic order Lithonida. The families Petrobionidae and Lepidoleuconidae have also sometimes been placed within Lithonida, though more recently they have been moved to the order Baerida. Thanks to their hypercalcified structure, minchinellids have a fossil record reaching as far back as the Jurassic Period.
Hexasterophora are a subclass of glass sponges in the class Hexactinellida. Most living hexasterophorans can be divided into three orders: Lyssacinosida, Lychniscosida, and Sceptrulophora. Like other glass sponges, hexasterophorans have skeletons composed of overlapping six-rayed spicules. In addition, they can be characterized by the presence of hexasters, a type of microsclere with six rays unfurling into multi-branched structures.
Lyssacinosida is an order of glass sponges (Hexactinellida) belonging to the subclass Hexasterophora. These sponges can be recognized by their parenchymal spicules usually being unconnected, unlike in other sponges in the subclass where the spicules form a more or less tightly connected skeleton. Lyssacine sponges have existed since the Upper Ordovician, and three families are still alive today. The Venus' flower basket is one of the most well-known and culturally significant of the glass sponges.
Spicules are structural elements found in most sponges. The meshing of many spicules serves as the sponge's skeleton and thus it provides structural support and potentially defense against predators.
Potamolepidae is a family of freshwater sponges, with seven genera:
Agelas dispar is a species of demosponge in the family Agelasidae. It lives on shallow-water reefs in the Caribbean Sea and around the West Indies.
Leuclathrina is a genus of sponges belonging to the family Dendyidae. Species are found in the northeast Atlantic and in the Indian Ocean.
Acanthochaetetidae is a family of sponges belonging to the order Clionaida. It is largely extinct, but contains two extant genera, each of which are represented by single extant species.
Acarnidae is a family of sponges belonging to the order Poecilosclerida. It has a global distribution, although several genera occur primarily in colder temperate waters, and several have very restricted ranges. It is estimated that there are several hundred species.
Coelosphaeridae is a family of sponges belonging to the order Poecilosclerida. Species are found across the globe.
Lychniscosida is an order of sponges belonging to the class Hexactinellida and subclass Hexasterophora. They are dictyonal sponges characterized by the presence of additional struts at the nodes of the skeleton. These struts create octahedral frames, known as lychniscs ("lanterns").
Acarnus is a genus of sponges belonging to the family Acarnidae. The genus has almost cosmopolitan distribution.
Ectyonopsis is a genus of demosponges in the family Myxillidae. They are mostly known from the waters surrounding Australia and from the Southern Ocean.
Penares is a widely distributed genus of demosponges.
Tetilla is a genus of demosponges in the family Tetillidae. It is widely distributed. They are mainly found in deeper habitats.
Monanchora is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Stellispongiida is an order of calcareous sponges, most or all of which are extinct. Stellispongiids are one of several unrelated sponge groups described as "inozoans", a name referring to sponges with a hypermineralized calcitic skeleton independent from their spicules. Stellispongiids have a solid skeleton encasing calcite spicules arranged in trabeculae. "Inozoans" and the similar "sphinctozoans" were historically grouped together in the polyphyletic order Pharetronida.
Radiocyatha is an extinct group of sponge-like animals which lived in the early to mid-Cambrian Period.