2022-10-25
The terminology of sponge spicules
Publication
Publication
Journal of Morphology , Volume 283 - Issue 12 p. 1517- 1545
Sponges (Porifera) are a diverse and globally distributed clade of benthic organisms,with an evolutionary history reaching at least the Ediacaran‐Cambrian (541 Ma)boundary interval. Throughout their research history, sponges have been subjects ofintense studies in many fields, including paleontology, evolutionary biology, andeven bioengineering and pharmacology. The skeletons of sponges are mostlycharacterized by the presence of mineral elements termed spicules, whichstructurally support the sponge bodies, though they also minimize the metaboliccost of water exchange and deter predators. The description of the spicules' shapeand the skeleton organization represents the fundamental basis of sponge taxonomyand systematics. Here, we provide an illustrated catalogue of sponge spicules, whichis based on previous works on sponge spicules, for example, and gathers andupdates all terms that are currently used in sponge descriptions. Each spicule type isfurther illustrated through high quality scanning electron microscope micrographs. Itis expected to be a valuable source that will facilitate spicule identification and, incertain cases, also enable sponge classification
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doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21520 | |
Journal of Morphology | |
Organisation | Staff publications |
Łukowiak, Magdalena, van Soest, R., Klautau, Michelle, Pérez, Thierry, Pisera, Andrzej, & Tabachnick, Konstantin. (2022). The terminology of sponge spicules. Journal of Morphology, 283(12), 1517–1545. doi:10.1002/jmor.21520 |