Question

Venus flower basket is the dried skeleton of
A. Euspongia
B. Euplectella
C. Spongilla
D. Leucosolenia

Answer 1

Hint: Porifera is a phylum of animal kingdom that consists of pores in the body. They reproduce through asexual reproduction and found in aquatic habitats. Sponge belongs to phylum Porifera.

Complete Answer:
- Venus flower basket belongs to genus Euplectella. Its name is derived from the sponges. The skeleton is covered by a thin cell layer and it is a curved tube that is about 25 cm long. The narrow base attaches as a tuft of fibres.
- Euplectella species feed on microorganisms and organic debris that are drawn into its central cavity by various numbers of holes in the wall of the body. It reproduces asexual; amoebocytes attach themselves around the deteriorating sponge.
- The epithelial cells later surround the amoebocytes and the deteriorating sponge is all gone anda new animals grow from the cells clump.
- Now, the Venus flower basket or Euplectella aspergillum is a sponge belonging to the phylum Porifera. It has white, lattice-like structure formed of silica. It is normally found in Philippine islands, Japan and in parts of Indian Ocean and western pacific. In Japan, it is regarded as a symbol of eternal love because each basket commonly contains a mated pair of shrimp.

Thus, the correct option is ‘B’. Euplectella.

Note: Spongilla belongs to genus freshwater sponges of the Spongillidae family found in the slow streams and lakes. The Euspongia is a bath sponge as it has a wooly texture used for scrubbing while bathing.