Venus' flower basket
Venus' flower basket is a striking species of sponge found in the deep, warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, typically at depths of 1,200 to 3,300 feet. Known scientifically as *Euplectella aspergillum*, this sponge belongs to the class of glass sponges, characterized by their unique glass-like silica fibers. Shaped like a tall, narrow vase, it has a skeletal structure made up of interwoven spicules, which are pointy structures that provide support. As water flows through its small openings, it carries food particles that the sponge filters using specialized cells.
The Venus' flower basket often houses pairs of shrimp or isopods, which enter the sponge for protection but can become trapped as they grow larger. Culturally, it is sometimes given as a wedding gift, symbolizing faithfulness in marriage due to the shrimp's captivity. This sponge can reproduce both sexually and asexually, with hermaphroditic capabilities allowing it to produce both sperm and eggs. Regeneration, budding, and gemmule formation are additional means of reproduction, enabling it to thrive even under varying environmental conditions. While the lifespan of Venus' flower basket is unclear, related glass sponge species are known to live for thousands of years.
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Venus' flower basket
This sponge is a popular and beautiful species that looks like a tall, narrow basket or vase. It belongs to the class of sponges called glass sponges and looks like it is woven from threads of glass.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Hexactinellida
Order: Lyssacinosida
Family: Euplectellidae
Genus: Euplectella
Species: Aspergillum
The deep, warm waters of the Pacific Ocean are home to a sponge species called the Venus' flower basket. It usually grows at depths between 1,200 and 3,300 feet (360 to 1,000 feet) but may live in deeper water. It attaches itself to rocks by long tufts of fibers.
This species belongs to the class of sponges known as glass sponges. They are called glass sponges because they are made of glass-like fibers of a material called silica. These fibers are structures of various shapes and sizes called spicules. The Latin word spiculum means point or dart. All the spicules connect to form an interwoven network which is the sponge's skeleton.
The skeleton of the Venus' flower basket is shaped like a vase. The sides of the sponge have many small openings into which water flows. Inside the sponge is a central chamber where the soft, coarse mesh of sponge tissue hangs. The openings in the central chamber are lined with tiny hair-like structures called flagella. The flagella beat the water to create currents so water flows into the sponge. The water carries food particles which collar-shaped cells around the flagella filter from the water. Wastewater passes from the sponge through a wide opening called an operculum at the top of the sponge. Spicules often connect to form what is called a sieve plate across the opening of the operculum. This white or pale yellow sponge may reach 3 to 51 inches (7 1/2 to 130 centimeters) high but most are between 4 and 12 inches (10 and 30 centimeters). At the top, they are two to three inches (5 to 7 1/2 centimeters) wide.
Pairs of shrimp (Spongicola verusta) or single isopods (Aega spongiophila) have been found inside the central chamber of this species of sponge. The shrimp and isopods swam into the sponge when they were smaller and were looking for food or protection. As they and the sponge grew, the creatures became too large to swim out through the sides or the spaces between the fibers of the sieve plate across the opening of the operculum. Some people consider the captured shrimp to be a sign of faithfulness in marriage, and they give one of these sponges as a wedding present to young couples.
The Venus' flower basket may reproduce both sexually and asexually. In sexual reproduction, a male's sperm fertilizes the egg from a female to grow a new sponge. In this species, reproduction does not require mating. Instead, the sponge is a hermaphrodite. This means it contains cells for producing both the male's sperm and the female's eggs at different times. At one time it releases sperm into the water, while a nearby sponge produces eggs. At another time it provides the eggs, and another sponge releases sperm into the water. The sperm fertilizes the eggs inside the sponge, and tiny larvae swim away to grow into new sponges.
Asexual reproduction means that a sperm from a male does not fertilize a female's egg. This happens in different ways. Sometimes pieces break free from a sponge and then settle and begin growing again. This process is called regeneration. A second way is that new sponges form on the surfaces of the sponge and grow to live independently. These are called buds, and the process is called budding. It may also produce pieces of itself called gemmules. Gemmules may be released from a dying sponge and then revive and grow much later when conditions in the water are suitable.
The life span of Venus' flower basket sponges is uncertain, but other glass sponge species live for thousands of years.
Bibliography
Keable, Stephen. "Deepsea Glass Sponge." Australian Museum, australian.museum/learn/animals/sea-stars/sponges/invertebrates-collection-deepsea-glass-sponge. Accessed 1 May 2024.
Soares, Beau. "Euplectella Aspergillum." Animal Diversity Web, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Euplectella‗aspergillum. Accessed 1 May 2024.
What is a Glass Sponge?" National Ocean Service, 18 Jan 2024, oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/glass-sponge.html. Accessed 1 May 2024.