CLASSIFICATION OF OSCARELLA
Phylum :- Porifera (Pore bearing, cellular grade, asymmetrical or radially symmetrical.)
Class :- Demospongiae (Skeleton of spongin fibres or siliceous spicules which are not six-rayed.)
Order :- Myxospongida (Skeleton absent.)
Genus :- Oscarella
Habit and habitat of Oscarella
Oscarella is found in shallow water forming encrustation over the rocks and submerged objects. It is a simple, primitive, sedentary and marine sponge
Distribution of Oscarella
Found in British waters.
Characteristics of Oscarella
- Oscarella is a bright, velvety coloured specimen with lobulated upper surface.
- Spicules are completely absent.
- Lower surface is attached to substratum.
- Basal part contains eggs, while peripheral part contains canal system. Thick cortex is absent.
- Lobules are covered by thin dermal layer. Each lobule encloses an excurrent canal, surrounded by flagellated chambers. Depressions between the lobules contain incurrent canals. Chambers vary from eurypylous to the aphodal type.
- Canal system leuconoid.
- Skeleton is absent. The structures without skeleton.
Identification of Oscarella
Since the specimen has lobulated upper surface, ostia and leuconoid canal system, hence it is Oscarella.