#hazelia

Cambrian Explosion Month #02: Phylum Porifera

Sponges are one of the very oldest branches of the animal family tree, originating sometime in the Proterozoic Eon. Fossils are known from at least 600 million years ago, and their ancestry probably goes back even further back than that into the Cryogenian Period or late Tonian Period, at least 750 million years ago.

So it's not especially surprising that sponges were already common and highly diverse in the Cambrian, with representatives of the major modern groups all present – demosponges, glass sponges, and calcareous sponges.

Hazelia was a very common demosponge known from the Chengjiang biota in southwest China (~518 million years ago), the Burgess Shale in Canada (~508 million years ago), and the Marjum Formation in Utah, USA (~505 million years ago). Different species within this genus varied widely in appearance, including cups, cones, branched forms, and nodular shapes.

Hazelia conferta here from the Burgess Shale was one of the cone-like forms, growing up to around 10cm tall (4").

Choia was another example of a demosponge known from the same locations as Hazelia, but it was very different-looking. Shaped like a disc bristling with radiating spines, it was originally thought to simply rest on the seafloor – but more recent discoveries suggest it attached itself to the bottom using a couple of long thin stalk-like spines, and lived suspended up in the water current like a little underwater kite.

Choia carteri here, also from the Burgess Shale, reached a diameter of about 5cm (2").

Both of these sponge genera were successful enough to survive throughout the Cambrian and into the Early Ordovician, until at least 475 million years ago – although its not clear whether the youngest fossils indicate these animals were still widespread by that time or if they represent isolated relict populations of Cambrian-like ecosystems.

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"Can I kiss you?"

My answer is always yes.

"I need you."

I'm with you til the end of the line, darlin'. I need you just as much as you need me. You're my absolute best friend-- I don't think I could survive without you. You're the Captain America to my Bucky Barnes.

"That was rude."

"Wow, your eyes are the most beautiful, that I’ve ever seen."

Awh, don't even start. My eyes are nothing compared to yours, babe.

"I’ve been enchanted by your amazing voice."

W-- What? Oh my Gosh, you're going to make me blush and then I'm going to look like a freckled tomato and I don't think anyone wants to see that.

"Ah, I’m sorry, I could have sworn you were an angel."

I'm an angel with a shotgun, fighting til the wars won, I don't care if heaven won't take me ba-- Sorry...got a bit carried away there. But please, you're the angel here, lovie.

"Am I dreaming, or do you really exist?"

You're not dreaming, and you're only saying this because I brought wine and chocolate. Don't worry though, I still love you even if you only love me for the wine and chocolate. Or...do you love me for my boobs? That's a question we may never know the answer to.

"I wasn’t aware that Goddesses/Gods existed."

Of course they do! Ever heard of the goddess Hazel Little? She's more beautiful than the sun and the moon itself.

"No flower or scenery can compare to your beauty."

Aaaaah j'ai presque l'impression que ça rend mieux sans les ombres xD (à gauche)