Lyssacinosida

Lyssacinosida
Temporal range:
Venus flower basket (Euplectella aspergillum, family Euplectellidae)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Hexactinellida
Subclass: Hexasterophora
Order: Lyssacinosida
Zittel, 1877
Subgroups

See text.

Synonyms
  • Lyssacinosa

Lyssacinosida (also spelled Lyssacinosa) is an order of glass sponges (Hexactinellida) belonging to the subclass Hexasterophora. These sponges can be recognized by their parenchymal spicules usually being unconnected, unlike in other sponges in the subclass where the spicules form a more or less tightly connected skeleton. Lyssacine sponges have existed since the Upper Ordovician, and three families (four including Aulocalycidae) are still alive today. The Venus' flower basket (Euplectella aspergillum) is one of the most well-known and culturally significant of the glass sponges.