Calcarea
Calcarea
Calcarea (pronunciation: kal-care-ee-uh) is a class of marine organisms known as sponges. The term is derived from the Latin word 'calx' meaning 'lime', referring to the calcium carbonate spicules that make up their skeleton.
Etymology
The term 'Calcarea' is derived from the Latin word 'calx' which means 'lime'. This is in reference to the calcium carbonate spicules that form the skeleton of these organisms.
Description
Calcarea are exclusively marine, and are characterized by spicules made out of calcium carbonate. They are typically small, not exceeding 10 cm in length, and are found in a variety of shapes, including tubular, vase-shaped, pear-shaped, or irregular. They are found in all marine habitats, from the intertidal zone to the deep sea.
Classification
Calcarea are divided into two subclasses: Calcinea and Calcaronea. Calcinea are characterized by asconoid and syconoid forms, while Calcaronea are characterized by leuconoid forms.
Related Terms
- Sponge: A simple multicellular organism that belongs to the phylum Porifera. Sponges are sessile and predominantly marine.
- Spicule: A small, sharp-pointed structure typically made of silica or calcium carbonate, serving as a structural element in certain marine and freshwater invertebrates.
- Calcium Carbonate: A common substance found in rocks. It is the main component of shells of marine organisms, snails, pearls, and eggshells.
- Calcinea: A subclass of Calcarea characterized by asconoid and syconoid forms.
- Calcaronea: A subclass of Calcarea characterized by leuconoid forms.
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