Sponges
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Calcarea
Class: Hexactinellida
Class: Demospongia
References
Calcarea:
"Calcareous sponges"
Facts:
Habitat:
Mainly found in temperate waters, but can be found in tropical in both saltwater and freshwater.
Usually found in shallow waters about 1000 meters deep.
Description:
Calcareous sponges characterized by spicules made out of Calcium Carbonate in the form of calcite or aragonite.
Less than 10 cm high and with dull coloration.
Calcarea is the only class found with asconoid and syconoid construction.
Additional Facts:
Roughly 400 species of sponges within this class.
Resistant to heavy metals and hydrocarbons (detergents).
While being considered a primitive group, they are the only group of sponges to have asconoid and syconoid construction.
Notable Species:
Leucosolenia
Scypha
Grantia