Irciniidae Family of Vase Sponges

Bell Sponge, Ircinia campana. A representative of the Irciniidae Family of Vase Sponges.

Phylogeny: Vase Sponges of the Irciniidae Family are in the phylum Porifera and the class Demospongiae. Demosponges are asymmetrical aquatic animals with skeletons made of spongin fibers, siliceous spicules, or both. More than eighty percent of sponges worldwide are in this class. They are in the subclass Keratosa and in the order Dictyoceratida. Sponges in this order lack spicules in the skeleton. They are held together by a network of primary, secondary, and sometimes, tertiary fibers. The Irciniidae Family is one of five families in this order. The Irciniidae Family is fairly large and contains four genera and one hundred fifty-nine species. Species in the Irciniidae Family are also commonly known as Irciniids. The name Irciniidae comes from the Latin words meaning “goat-like”. This refers to the unpleasant odor given off by these sponges.

Morphology: Irciniids are characterized by having very fine collagenous filaments, with beaded ends, in the mesohyl (the gelatinous matrix in the space between in inner and outer cell layers), which supplement the fiber skeleton. This gives these sponges a very tough, “old boot-like”, consistency.  They may have a high structural profile or be a thin encrusting sponge. Sponges lack internal organs and a nervous system. They are multi-cellular animals with tiny pores in their outer wall. Water is drawn through these pores and then circulated through cells within the body, before being expelled through larger openings. This water flow provides oxygen and nutrients, and removes wastes as it passes through the body cells. The water is moved by the beating of flagella, which line the surface of chambers that are connected by canals. Adult sponges have a base that attaches to hard surfaces. Sponges in this family may look like bumpy blobs, blobs with holes, branching pillars, bowls, vases, or urns. Most Irciniids are drably colored, with some being brighter yellow or red. Sponges in the Irciniidae Family vary in size from a few centimeters in height to over 1 m (3 feet 3 inches) in height.

Habitat and Distribution: Irciniid Sponges are found in brackish and marine environments. They attach to hard substrates. They can be found from the lower intertidal zone to depths exceeding 400 m (1,312 feet). Irciniids are found worldwide in temperate to tropical seas. Four species from the Irciniidae Family are found in Mexican waters.

Reproduction: Irciniid Sponges are simultaneous hermaphrodites (having both male and female reproductive organs). Reproduction is sexual, through broadcast spawning.  The eggs are then fertilized internally. The embryos develop in brood chambers until they reach a certain size, then disperse as planktonic parenchymella larvae. These larvae are free swimming, until they settle down on hard substrate where they grow into young sponges. They can also reproduce asexually through fragmentation or budding.

Ecosystem Interactions: Irciniid Sponges are filter feeders that pump water through their body wall and filter out plankton and suspended organic matter. The water comes in through the pores and is expelled through the osculi. In doing so, they filter the water around them and recycle organic matter to higher trophic levels. These sponges contain high concentrations of linear furanosesterterpene tetronic acids (FTAs). These compounds seem to act as chemical defenses against predators. Still, Irciniid Sponges are occasionally preyed upon by fish and sea turtles.