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What is Venus's Flower Basket?

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All You Need To Know About Venus Flower Basket

The Venus Flower Basket is a sponge, which is located about 100 to 1,000 meters (330 to 3,300 feet) below the seafloor near Japan and the Philippines. It is a type of glass sponge, which means it has a frame made up of small pointed and pointed structures of silica, also known as silicon dioxide. Such things are commonly found in sand or quartz form and used in our glass, ceramics, food products and all sorts of other applications. 


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Venus (Euplectella aspergillum) is a rare marine animal found on the ocean floor. The tubular sponge filters small food particles from seawater as it flows through the structure. The cylindrical skeleton, composed mainly of silica, is made of glass and has a solid composition with more than six stages of organization. The top cover prevents the collapse of the structure. This marine life is most commonly found in the deep waters of Asia. 

The cylindrical frame, also called glass sponge, is made of silica, the main component of glass. While ordinary glass is a brittle and fragile material, the skeleton of the Venus flower basket is extremely strong and stable due to its structure and composition. The skeleton has at least six levels of tissue, varying in size from a few nanometers to centimetres.

In this article, we will discuss the venus’s flower basket with its physical description, euplectella habitat, applications of venus's flower basket, etc.


Euplectella Venus Flower Basket

Venus flower basket, any of several sponges of the genus Euplectella, especially E. aspergillum (Hexactinellida type, glass sponge). The Venus Flower Basket's name comes from the delicate white lattice-like skeleton of a sponge made of silica. In living animals, the bones are covered by a thin layer of cells. ME. Aspergillus is found in a small area near the Philippine Islands. Similar species have been found near Japan and elsewhere in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. 


The animal’s skeleton or "basket" is a curved tube about 10 inches long. A tuft of fibres at the narrow bottom connects the animal to the sea floomuchr. Euplectella species feed on organic debris and microorganisms, which enter their central cavity through many holes in the body wall. The skeleton of the Venus flower basket is a precious antique. In Japan, it is considered a symbol of eternal love, because each basket usually contains a couple of shrimp. 


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Euplectella aspergillum (Euplectella aspergillum) is a marine animal that lives deep in the sea near the Philippines. These tubular sponges look more like delicate sculptures than animals, typically 4 to 12 inches tall and can filter tiny food particles from the sea as it flows through their bodies.

Scientific details of the venus flower basket:

  • Common Name: Venus's Flower Basket, Euplectella venus flower basket

  • Scientific Name: Euplectella aspergillum

  • Phylum: Porifera

  • Class: Hexactenellida

  • Size: 7.5 cm to 1.3 m


Euplectella Habitat

There is a lot of exotic flora and fauna in nature. The Venusian flower basket, sponge, is one such creature. This sponge can make glass in your body from seawater! This is why it is also known as a "glass sponge". These sponges are also known as symbols of a happy marriage in Japan. Wisteria is also scientifically known as Euprecella aspergillum. It belongs to the Hexattinellid class of the phylum Sponges. It can be found in some places under the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is commonly found near the Philippines and Japan. 


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The flower basket is used as a support when it reaches a height of approximately 25 cm (10 inches). We usually only see this skeleton, bleached, dried and decorated. In their natural environment, a thin layer of living cells surrounds them. The water is sucked in and the plankton is filtered and consumed. 

But Venus is both the goddess of love and the goddess of beauty. In Japan, her flower basket is traditionally given as a wedding gift. Not only just because it's a spectacular winery, but also it’s regarded as a symbol of pure eternal love. 


Characteristics of The Venus's Flower Basket

Marine life is filled with fascinating deep-sea creatures. As we go deeper into the sea level, we encounter many interesting and unique creatures. The venus flower basket which is also known as the euplectella venus flower basket is one among such species which left the human world with awe due to its appearance and structure. 

Euplectella venus flower basket is one of the species of glass sponges found in the deep waters of Japan and is known to have two small shrimp (male and female) in the glass skeleton. Some juveniles enter the sponge when they are young, but eventually, they will grow larger. This means that they will spend the rest of their lives trapped in this glasshouse.

Let us now have a look at the detailed description of Venus’s flower basket, which will learn about the physical characteristics of the euplectella venus flower basket, euplectella habitat, size, diet, etc….

1. Physical description of the venus flower basket:

The body is tubular, curved, basket-shaped and consists of triaxial spines. There are more holes in the body. These aren't the real vents, they're just the gaps at the top. There is a type of conoid tubule system, in which the pits communicate with the endogenous tubules, with the radial tubules through the prosopilla, and the prosopilla opens towards the sponge and outwards through the oscum. 

The euplectella venus flower basket is radially symmetrical, medium in size and 7.5 cm to 1.3 m tall. Most are between 10 and 30 centimetres. The skeleton contains the correct spicules (6 lines) and also contains a grid of fused spicules. This is where it gets the name "Glass Sponge" because it's made of glass and is the most refined example of Hexactinellid, but it's also not as durable and fragile as glass. Around this beautiful skeleton is a web of living tissue called the trabecular. It is created by the fusion of amoebic cells called neck cells. 


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Inside this spherical mesh is a long finger-shaped cavity covered in choanocytes that opens into the sponge. Choanocytes are another layer of cells that have flagella-like hairs that vibrate to move water through the sponge. The exterior and interior surfaces are covered by this circular mesh. Cavities throughout the body are patchy. The result will be in the form of a funnel or vase. That's why it was named ‘Venus's Flower Basket’. The base of E. aspergillum is long spherical clusters that attach to the seafloor.  

The Venus flower basket is radially symmetrical, reasonably sized, 7.5 cm and 1.3 m high. It has a unique lattice structure of fused silica spicules, giving it a glass-like appearance. The network of biological tissues surrounding spongy granules is composed of amoebic cells called neck cells. Within the tubular network, there is a finger-shaped cavity covered with choanocytes that leads to the sponge, allowing water to move through the sponge. At the bottom of the Venus Flower Basket is an elongated spike attached to the ocean floor. Under adverse circumstances, reproduction is asexual. Under more favourable conditions, reproduction can be sexual.

2. The habitat and distribution of the venus flower basket:

Now let us have a look at the euplectella habitat. The euplectella venus flower basket of Venus can be seen attached to rocks at a depth of 100 to 1000 m below the seafloor surface. Their geographical range includes the western Pacific Ocean near the Philippine archipelago. This species can be seen attached to rocky areas on the seafloor. It is found at a depth of 100-1000m above the earth's surface and is most common at depths greater than 500m. 

This sponge is found in the western Pacific Ocean near the Philippine Islands. Other species of this genus are found in oceans around the world.

3. The diet of the venus's flower basket:

The main food of the Venus flower basket is made up of microbial detritus and organic matter. They are filtered by the water flowing through the sponge. 

4. The behaviour of the Venus flower basket:

The venus flower basket is inhabited very deep and information about its active life is very limited. It is a rodless animal that protrudes from the rocky bottom, and it is mostly seen on the seafloor. It can be easily recognised by its beautiful appearance.


5. Reproduction: 

Little is known about the reproduction of the Venus flower basket. Details of the reproduction of the euplectella venus flower basket are still unknown, so the normal reproductive morphology of sponges cannot generally be explained. In many cases, sponges depend on asexual reproduction when adverse conditions occur. In sponges using asexual reproduction, the amoebic cells that surround the sponge are degraded. Epithelial cells later surround the amoebic cells, and when the degraded sponge has disappeared, new animals emerge from the cell cluster. 

Some sponges are bisexual and have only one gender, but they may be Euplectetlla Aspergillum or venus flower basket is hermaphrodite and produces both male and female gametes at different times. 

It has been observed that both the neck and the choanocytes are gametes and their maturation process is similar to that of higher animals. The sperm enters the sponge with the inhaled current and fertilizes the ovaries. Amoeba cells, which are carrier cells, fertilize eggs as well as sperm and ovaries. The carrier cell and sperm then reach the egg, forming a cytostome containing both the carrier and sperm cells. The zygotes then pass radial cleavage of the whole breath to form cells of similar size and shape. The embryo then forms a free-swimming larva and eventually turns into a new sponge. 

6. Conservation status:

E. as much information could not be found during the study of this invertebrate. Aspergillum is found at such depths and the status of its population is unknown. 

7. Applications: 

The fibreglass that attaches the sponge to the seabed is 5 to 20 centimetres (2 to 8 inches) long and as thin as human hair, so fibre researchers are of high interest. The sponge extracts silicic acid from seawater and converts it to silica, forming a complex fibreglass skeleton. Other types of sponges, such as the orange bubble sponge (Tethya aurantium), can also biologically produce glass. 


Current methods of manufacturing optical fibres require high temperatures and produce brittle fibres. Cold processes for creating and arranging such fibres inspired by sponges may provide greater control over the optical properties of the fibres. These nanostructures may also help create more efficient and cheaper solar cells. In addition, its skeletonized construction has influenced a new type of structural truss that has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than other diagonally reinforced square trusses used in applications. 

These spongy skeletons have complex geometries. Hence these have been extensively studied for stiffness, yield strength, and minimal crack propagation. Aluminium tubes (aluminium and glass with the same modulus) that have the same length, effective thickness and radius and are evenly distributed have a stiffness of 1/100.


Conclusion

  • Venus flower basket is a genus of sponges. They are also known as glass sponges due to the presence of porous silicon particles. Includes a basket of Venus flowers. They are abundant in seawater on the seafloor. 

  • Their bodies are curved, tubular, basket-shaped or vase-shaped. Water circulates through the canal system. The channel system is of the cycloid type. 

  • She has a symbiotic relationship with the shrimp, and in Japan, she is given as a wedding gift and symbolizes unity until death. 

  • The skeleton is made up of spicules. The siliceous spicules give them a glassy look. 

  • The actual host does not exist. Most of the holes on the outer surface are the gaps at the top. 

  • There is a well-connected canal system for circulating water. The channel system is conoid. The current channel is connected to a radial channel, which opens at a point of contact with the spongy coils inside and outside the body. 

  • The afferent duct has a choanocyte membrane. 

  • The pairs of male and female spongy shrimp live in sponges throughout their lives. Their little offspring came out and another basket was found. Shrimp take food from the basket and clean the basket from the inside. 

  • They reproduce both asexually and sexually. 

  • Vitreous binders in the seabed of flowers of the genus Venus are being studied for optical fibres to create stronger optical fibres. They can also be used to make solar cells cheaper and more efficient.

FAQs on What is Venus's Flower Basket?

1. Is the euplectella venus basket rare?

Answer: Yes, they are very rare to find. People have to swim around the water to find these.

2. Is Venus's flower basket endangered?

Answer: Yes, they are endangered.

3. What does a venus flower basket do?

Answer: The venus flower basket is one of the famous glass sponges and is a species of the Euplectella family. The euplectella venus flower basket builds its skeleton in a way that entraps a certain species of crustacean inside for life.