Lyssacinosida Temporal range:
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Venus flower basket (Euplectella aspergillum, family Euplectellidae) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Porifera |
Class: | Hexactinellida |
Subclass: | Hexasterophora |
Order: | Lyssacinosida Zittel, 1877 |
Subgroups | |
See text. | |
Synonyms | |
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Lyssacinosida (also spelled Lyssacinosa) 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.[2][3] Lyssacine sponges have existed since the Upper Ordovician, and three families[2] (four including Aulocalycidae)[3] are still alive today. The Venus' flower basket (Euplectella aspergillum) is one of the most well-known and culturally significant of the glass sponges.