Sponges Flashcards

1
Q

Why should we care about fossil sponges (and other sponge-like animals)?

A

a) Sponges represent the simplest multicellular animals with a fossil record spanning more than half a billion yearsb) some sponges & sponge-like organisms have been important reef-formers in the past (archaeocyathids in Cambriand, stromatoporoids in Silurian-Devonian, and calcisponges in Permian-Triassic)c) Some sponges are major contributors of carbonate sedimentd) Some sponges produce sliceous spicules that provide a source of silica for diagenetic chert formation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the Multicellular grades of organization of animal development?

A

a) Cellular Gradeb) Tissue Gradec) Organ Grade

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Cellular Grade:

A

Organism composed of many differentiated cells, which function semi-independently and are not joined together as tissues (e.g., Phylum Porifera and Archaeocyatha)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Tissue Grade:

A

Simple organism with various types of tissues (e.g., Phylum Porifera & Archaeocyatha)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Organ Grade:

A

Complex organism containing many highly developed organs, such as a heart, stomach, intestine, etc. (e.g., the true metazoans)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Phylum Porifera:

A

(“pore-bearing organisms): Sponges with a porous body containing spicules and/or spongin; simple, aquatic, filter-feeding animals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Class Hexactinellida:

A

(“Glass Sponges”): Relatively rigid sponges composed of loosely joined or tightly fused siliceous spicules; no spongin; exclusively marine, especially in deep water

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Class Hexactinellida Geologic Range:

A

CAMBRIAN TO HOLOCENE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Class Calcarea:

A

(“Calcisponges”): Relatively rigid sponges composed of calcite spicules; no spongin; exclusively marine, mostly in shallow water; CAMBRIAN TO HOLOCENE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Class Calcarea Geologic Range:

A

CAMBRIAN TO HOLOCENE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Class Demospongea:

A

(“Demosponges”): Flexible sponges composed of soft spongin; with or without siliceous spicules; inhabit marine and fresh water; CAMBRIAN TO HOLOCENE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Class Demospongea Geologic Range:

A

CAMBRIAN TO HOLOCENE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Class Stromatoporoidea:

A

(“Stromatoporoids”): Hard, solid, sponge-like organisms composed of densely laminated skeleton of calcite and containing radiating “pillars” of calcite within the “laminae”; no evidence of spongin; exclusively marine, occuring mostly as reef-builders in shallow tropical waters; ORDOVICIAN TO CRETACEOUS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Class Stromatoporoidea Geologic Range:

A

ORDOVICIAN TO CRETACEOUS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Class Sclerospongia:

A

Hard, solid sponge composed of a densely laminated skeleton of aragonite or calcite plus soft spongin containing siliceous spicules; exclusively marine, occurring mostly in cryptic habitats in shallow tropical waters; ORDOVICIAN TO RECENT (not very important as fossils)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Class Sclerospongia Geologic Range:

A

ORDOVICIAN TO RECENT

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Ostium:

A

Small pore in the sponge wall, through which water enters the body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Canal:

A

Tubular channel starting at an ostium and extending through the sponge wall.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Spongocoel:

A

Large cavity in the interior of the sponge body

20
Q

Osculum:

A

Large opening, through which water is expelled from the spongocoel.

21
Q

Spongin:

A

The soft, flexible, organic material that makes many sponges “spongy”

22
Q

Spicules:

A

Tiny, hard, needle-like structures of either silica or calcite (not all sponges have these)

23
Q

Draw and label a diagram of typical sponge

A

See 4a

24
Q

Problematical Relatives? of Sponges:

A

StromatoporoidsArchaeocyathids

25
Q

Stromatoporoids:

A

laminated organisms that are usually classified in Phylum Porifera

26
Q

Laminae:

A

Individual, thin, calcite layers that make up the stromatoporoid skeleton

27
Q

Latilaminae:

A

Discrete units of multiple calcite laminae.

28
Q

Pillars:

A

Long calcite rods within the latilaminae; oriented perpendicular to the laminae.

29
Q

Mamelons:

A

Rounded bumps on the surface of a stromatoporoid skeleton

30
Q

Astrorhizae:

A

Star-like arrangement of radiating, branching grooves on the mamelons.

31
Q

Draw and label a diagram of a stromatoporoid:

A

See 4b

32
Q

Archaeocyathids:

A

cup-like organisms that are usually classified in a separate phylum

33
Q

Phylum Archaeocyatha:

A

(“ancient cup-like” organisms): Sponge-like organisms with a rigid calcite skeleton of two concentric, porous walls; simple, aquatic, filter-feeding animals.

34
Q

Class Regulares:

A

Archaeocyathids in which the skeleton lacks dissepiments; LOWER CAMBRIAN

35
Q

Class Regulares Geologic Range:

A

LOWER CAMBRIAN

36
Q

Class Irregulares:

A

Archaeocyathids in which the basal part of the skeleton has tiny, irregularly arranged, subhorizontal partitions, called dissepiments; LOWER CAMBRIAN

37
Q

Class Irregulares Geologic Range:

A

LOWER CAMBRIAN

38
Q

Outer wall:

A

Outermost of the two concentric walls of an archaeocyathid.

39
Q

Inner Wall:

A

Innermost of the two concentric walls of an archaeocyathid.

40
Q

Septa (parietal walls):

A

Rigid, radiating partitions that separate the outer and inner walls. (archaeocyathid)

41
Q

Intervallum:

A

Open space between the outer and inner walls. (archaeocyathid)

42
Q

Central cavity:

A

Open space inside the inner wall (archaeocyathid)

43
Q

Tip:

A

Pointed bottom end of the archaeocyathid skeleton.

44
Q

Holdfast:

A

Calcareous projections of the skeleton near its tip, which serve to anchor the arcaeocyathid skeleton in place in the sediment

45
Q

Draw and label a diagram of a typical archaeocyathid:

A

See 4b