Euplectellidae is a family of glass sponges belonging to the order Lyssacinosa, first represented in the Ordovician fossil record, substantially older than molecular estimates of the clade's age.
The Venus' flower basket is a species of glass sponge found in the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean, usually at depths below 500 m. Like other glass sponges, they build their skeletons out of silica,
Euplectella aspergillum Okeanos
Euplectella aspergillum
Closeup of intricate lattice of the Venus' flower basket
Euplectella aspergillum at a depth of 2,572 m (8,438 ft)