Antarctic bell sponge [Heterochone antarctica]
Description
The Antarctic bell sponge is a species of glass sponge that is native to the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica. It has a bell or vase shape, with a lattice-like skeleton composed of siliceous spicules. This species is usually found at depths of 200 to 1,000 meters, anchored to soft sediments. They filter feed on microscopic organisms and particles in the water column.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Sponges
Porifera
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Demospongiae
Demospongiae
|
| Order |
Tetractinellida
Tetractinellida
|
| Family |
Glass Sponges
Petrosiidae
|
| Genus |
Heterochone
Heterochone
|