No image available.

Word:
Agglutinating

Description:
Creating substrate or support by cementing together a mixture of foreign material, such as sand, shell, or rock.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

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Word:
Amorphous

Description:
Without definite shape. To be rejected, vague term. See MASSIVE.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Arborescent

Description:
Erect, branching habit, tree-like in appearance (Axinella polypoides)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Areolated

Description:
Surface covered by numerous circular ectosomal areas (Hamigera)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Branching

Description:
Spreading out in branches (see also ARBORESCENT and REPENT).

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Caliculate

Description:
Cup shaped (Poterion neptuni)

Synonyms:
Cup shaped

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Clathrate

Description:
Resembling open latticework (Clathrina coriacea)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Clavate

Description:
Club shaped (Rhizaxinella pyrifera)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Columnar

Description:
Shape of solid, erect cylinder (Petrosia capsa)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Compressible

Description:
Easily squeezed.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Conulose

Description:
Surface with numerous cone-shaped projections raised up by underlying skeleton (Dysidea sp.)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Corrugated

Description:
Surface with alternating parallel ridges and grooves (Callyspongia plicifera)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Crateriform

Description:
Massive shape, with a broad base and large central depression (Xestospongia muta).

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Dendritic

Description:
To be rejected for habit (term used as a descriptor of skeleton, see "Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae").

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Digitate

Description:
Deeply divided, finger-like outgrowths from basal mass (Halichondria bowerbanki)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Elastic

Description:
Resilient.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Encrusting

Description:
Thin, sheet-like coating of the substrate (Hymedesmia spp.)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Endolithic

Description:
Occupying cavities in hard substrata (see also EXCAVATING).

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Endopsammic

Description:
Main part of body buried in sand (Oceanapia peltata)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Erect

Description:
General term for having a vertical (away from substrate) growth strategy.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Excavating

Description:
Living in galleries or cavities bored into limestone or other calcareous materials (species of Cliona, Thoosa, Aka)

Synonyms:
Boring , burrowing , perforating

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Ficiform

Description:
Fig shaped (Petrosia ficiformis)

Synonyms:
Pyriform

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Firm

Description:
Solid, requires considerable pressure to deform sponge (species of Chondrosia).

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Fistulose

Description:
Bearing fistules (Coelosphaera hechteli).

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Flabellate

Description:
Fan shaped (Phakellia ventilabrum)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Flagelliform

Description:
Shaped as a single, very long, erect branch (Raspailia viminalis)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Foliaceous

Description:
In the form of a leaf (Carteriospongia foliacens)

Synonyms:
Foliose

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

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Word:
Fragile

Description:
Easily broken.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

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Word:
Friable

Description:
Easily broken, delicate, brittle.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Globular

Description:
Ball shaped, spherical (Tethya aurantium)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

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Word:
Glutinous

Description:
Sticky (Reniera mucosa).

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

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Word:
Hard

Description:
Firm consistency, unyielding to pressure (most lithis tids, species of Petrosia).

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Hispid

Description:
Surface with long and scattered spicular projections (Stelletta spp.)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Honeycombed

Description:
Surface with polygonal pattern of ridges (Verongula gigantea)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

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Word:
Incompressible

Description:
Not easily squeezed.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Infundibuliform

Description:
Funnel shaped (Callyspongia plicifera)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Lamellate

Description:
Plate-like erect (Phyllospongia lamellosa).

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Limp

Description:
Soft to the point of collapsing out of water.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Lipostomous

Description:
Condition of a surface in which oscula and ostia are inconspicuous (in old descriptions).

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

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Word:
Lobate

Description:
Having rounded projections.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

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Word:
Lobodigitate

Description:
To be rejected (tautology).

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Massive

Description:
Large, compact structure without definable shape (Spongia officinalis).

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Ovate

Description:
Egg shaped, ellipsoid (Cinachyrella)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Palmate

Description:
Hand shaped (Isodictya palmata)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Palmodigitate

Description:
To be rejected (tautology).

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Papillate

Description:
Surface bearing papillae (Polymastia spp.)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Pedunculate

Description:
Supported by a short stalk containing choanosome (Aplysina pedunculata)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Pinnate

Description:
Feather shaped (Asbestopluma pennatula)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Platy

Description:
Thickly lamellate, usually in horizontal orientation.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Polymorphic

Description:
Occurring in different shapes.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Punctate

Description:
Surface appearing dotted because of microscopic pores.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Repent

Description:
Growing along or just above the substrate, simple or branching, attaching to the substrate at intervals (Hali clona simulans)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Resilient

Description:
Resumes original shape after deformation.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Ribbed

Description:
Surface with series of ridges (Xestospongia muta) ; ridges not necessarily parallel, as in CORRUGATED.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Rooted

Description:
Anchored to or into substrate with root-like processes (Pheronema grayi).

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Rubbery

Description:
Resilient and tough.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Rugose

Description:
Having a rough and ridged surface (Topsentia spp.)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Sessile

Description:
Permanently attached to substrate.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Smooth

Description:
Surface without any projections (Chondrosia reniformis).

Synonyms:
Glabrous

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Soft

Description:
Yielding to pressure, easily torn.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Spiny

Description:
Surface with scattered, stiff, and sharp spicular or fiber projections (Pleraplysilla spinifera)

Synonyms:
Muricate

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Stipitate

Description:
Supported by a long stalk (Stylocordyla stipitata)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Stoloniferous

Description:
Condition in which distinct, massive parts of a sponge are interconnected by repent, rope-like structures (Haliclona tubifera).

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Sulcate

Description:
Furrowed with longitudinal, or meandering (gyriform), parallel channels (Myrmekioderma styx)

Synonyms:
Gyriform

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Tough

Description:
Resistant to tearing (Ircinia).

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Tubular

Description:
Shape of hollow, erect cylinder (Aplysina fistularis)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Turbinate

Description:
Resembling an inverted cone (Cribochalina vasculum)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Vallate

Description:
To be rejected (old-fashioned, heraldic term used to describe massive forms).

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Velvety

Description:
Surface with dense, short spicular projections, feeling soft and smooth to the touch.

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Verrucose

Description:
Warty (genus Tethya)

Synonyms:
Tuberculate

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

No image available.

Word:
Vesicular

Description:
Hollow, bladder-like (Inflatella belli).

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Villose

Description:
Surface shaggy, with dense, long spicular bundles (Rosella villosa)

Category:
Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Word:
Aphodal

Description:
Type of choanocyte chamber that connects directly with the inhalant canals through prosopyles and with the exhalant canal through an apopyle extended by an aphodus. Only one chamber opens into one aphodus

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Aphodus

Description:
Small exhalant canal leading from the apopyle to an exhalant canal (ap in figure).

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Apopyle

Description:
Opening of a choanocyte chamber into an exhalant canal (apo in figure).

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Aquiferous system

Description:
The entire water-conducting system between the ostia and the oscula, which comprises the inhalant system, choanocyte chambers, and the exhalant system

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Asconoid

Description:
Aquiferous system in which the internal cavity of the sponge is entirely lined by choanocytes

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Atrium ("spongocoel," "cloaca," or "gastral cavity")

Description:
Preoscular cavity. This term is used specifically to designate the central exhalant cavity

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

No image available.

Word:
Choanochamber

Description:
New term for Hexactinellida (replacing "flagellated chamber") to designate the equivalent of the choanocyte chambers of Demospongiae and Calcarea.

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Choanocyte chamber (flagellated chamber)

Description:
Any cavity lined by choanocytes and located between inhalant and exhalant systems.

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

No image available.

Word:
Choanosome

Description:
The internal region of a sponge, including the choanocyte chambers.

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Cortex

Description:
A superficial region of a sponge reinforced by a special organic or inorganic skeleton

Synonyms:
Crust

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Diplodal

Description:
Type of choanocyte chamber that connects with the inhalant canals through a canaliculum called the prosodus and with the excurrent canal through an apopyle extended by an aphodus

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

No image available.

Word:
Ectosome

Description:
The superficial region of a sponge that has no choanocyte chambers.

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Eurypylous

Description:
Type of choanocyte chamber that connects directly with the inhalant canals through prosopyles and with the excurrent canal through an apopyle. There is no special canal after the apopyle, and several chambers open into the same exhalant canal

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

No image available.

Word:
Exhalant canal

Description:
Any canal forming part of the exhalant system, lined by the apopinacoderm.

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Exhalant system

Description:
Part of the aquiferous system between the apopyle and oscule

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Fistule

Description:
A tube-like protuberance projecting from the sponge surface. See also PAPILLA

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

No image available.

Word:
Flagellated chamber

Description:
To be rejected. See CHOANOCYTE CHAMBER and CHOANOCHAMBER.

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

No image available.

Word:
Inhalant canal

Description:
Any canal forming part of the inhalant system and lined by the prosopinacoderm.

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

No image available.

Word:
Inhalant system

Description:
Part of the aquiferous system between ostia and prosopyle.

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

No image available.

Word:
Intracellular pore

Description:
Term to be rejected. See PORE.

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Leuconoid

Description:
Aquiferous system in which the choanocytes are restricted to discrete choanocyte chambers, which are dispersed in the mesohyl.

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Osculum (pl. oscula)

Description:
Opening through which the water leaves a sponge.

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Ostium (pl. ostia) (= pore)

Description:
Any opening in the exopinacoderm through which water enters the sponge.

Synonyms:
Pore

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Papilla

Description:
Nipple-like protuberance projecting from the sponge surface and bearing either ostia, oscula, or both.

Synonyms:
Aquiferous papilla

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Pore groove

Description:
A furrow in the ectosome where the ostia are located

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Pore sieve (fr. crible)

Description:
A specialized area of the ectosome with a cluster of ostia and an underlying inhalant cavity called the vestibule

Synonyms:
Chone (uniporal chone, cribriporal chone)

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Porocalyx

Description:
Cup-shaped depressions with pore-sieves, typical of some genera of Tetillidae

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Prosopyle

Description:
Opening of an inhalant canal into a choanocyte chamber (pro in figure).

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Sieve plate

Description:
Perforated plate that extends over the broad terminal opening of some tubular-shaped Hexactinellida (Euplectella). See "Architecture and Spicules of Hexactinellida"

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Syconoid

Description:
Aquiferous system with elongated choanocyte chamber containing free distal cones or extending from cortex to atrium.

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Sylleibid

Description:
Aquiferous system with elongate choanocyte chambers arranged radially around invagination of the atrial cavity (Leucilla uter)

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Vestibule (= subdermal cavity)

Description:
Subectosomal cavity. An inhalant aquiferous cavity close to the surface (see also PORE SIEVE).

Category:
Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Word:
Actinocyte

Description:
Elongated contractile cell often grouped in sphincter- like structure around the osculum, below the sieve- plates, and around the large exhalant canals. Characterized by numerous filaments of actin within their cytoplasm. New term for the contractile cell (ac in figure).

Synonyms:
Myocyte

Category:
Cytology

No image available.

Word:
Apopinacoderm

Description:
Surface lined by apopinacocytes.

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Apopylar cell

Description:
Cell surrounding the apopyle and located between the choanocytes and the apopinacocytes (ay in figure).

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Archaeocyte

Description:
Amoeboid cell with large nucleolus and capable of phagocytosis. May differentiate into other types of cells (ar in figure).

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Basopinacocyte

Description:
Pinacocyte affixing the sponge to the substratum by external secretion of a collagenous matrix (bs in figure).

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Choanoblast

Description:
Cell that buds anucleate outgrowth called COLLAR BODY; in Hexactinellida

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Choanocyte

Description:
Cell having a flagellum that is surrounded by a collar of cytoplasmic microvilli linked by bridges of glycocalyx. Several are typically arranged in spherical, ovoid, or elongated chambers. Fundamental cell of sponges (ch in figure).

Category:
Cytology

No image available.

Word:
Choanoderm

Description:
Surface lined by choanocytes.

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Collencyte

Description:
Cell with branching pseudopods, involved in the secretion of collagen (co in figure).

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Cystencyte

Description:
Cell with a single large vesicle containing amorphous material identified as polysaccharide and occupying most of the cell volume

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Endopinacocyte

Description:
Pinacocyte lining the inhalant and exhalant canals. In some Demospongiae orders, it has a flagellum (en in figure).

Category:
Cytology

No image available.

Word:
Endopinacoderm

Description:
Surface lined by endopinacocytes.

Category:
Cytology

No image available.

Word:
Eosinophilic cell

Description:
Cell with inclusions that react positively with eosine.

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Exopinacocyte

Description:
Fusiform or T-shaped pinacocyte covering the free surface of a sponge. In exceptional cases, it has a flagellum (Homoscleromorpha) (ex in figure).

Category:
Cytology

No image available.

Word:
Fuchsinophilic cell

Description:
Cell with inclusions that react positively with acid fuchsin.

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Globoferous cell

Description:
Cell with a single large globule, a reduced cytoplasm, and a small conical nucleus (Clathriidae)

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Glycocyte

Description:
Cell with conspicuous dictyosomes, characterized by the presence of glycogen rosettes and osmiophilic inclusions. Also known as gray cell

Synonyms:
Gray cell

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Lophocyte

Description:
Collencyte with a characteristic tuft of collagen fibrils attached to the posterior pole (lo in figure).

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Mesohyl

Description:
Part of sponge enclosed by pinacoderm and choanoderm (= "mesenchyme," term to be rejected for sponges).

Category:
Cytology

No image available.

Word:
Mesolamella

Description:
Sheet of collagen separating the choanochambers of hexactinellids.

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Microsymbiont

Description:
Prokaryotic or more rarely eukaryotic microorganism living inside a sponge. May be unicellular or multicellular filamentous, with or without pigments, and may occur intra- or intercellularly

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Pinacocyte

Description:
Cell delimiting the sponge from the external milieu and always only in a layer one-cell deep

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Pocket cell

Description:
Special kind of bacteriocyte that surrounds an area of the intercellular matrix, including microsymbionts

Category:
Cytology

No image available.

Word:
Prosopinacocyte

Description:
Endopinacocyte lining the inhalant canals.

Category:
Cytology

No image available.

Word:
Prosopinacoderm

Description:
Surface lined by prosopinacocytes.

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Rhabdiferous cell

Description:
Large cell with numerous rod-like inclu sions parallel to the long axis of the cell containing acid mucopolysaccharides

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Sclerocyte

Description:
Cell involved in spicule secretion. In Demospon- ges, with intracellular secretion, sclerocytes are characterized by numerous mitochondria and the presence of spicule-axial filaments. In Calcarea, where secretion is extracellular, sclerocytes have septate junctions between them (sc in figure).

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Spherulous cell

Description:
Cell filled with large round spherules that occupy almost the entire cell body, compressing the cytoplasm into thin sheets (sp in figure).

Category:
Cytology

No image available.

Word:
Trabecular tissue

Description:
Syncytia in hexactinellids occurring around the choanochambers.

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Trophocyte

Description:
Nurse cell involved in the initial stages of gemmule and oocyte formation.

Category:
Cytology

Word:
Amphiblastula

Description:
Hollow, ovoid larva, with anterior flagellated and posterior nonflagellated groups of cells; typical of Calcaronea

Category:
Reproduction

No image available.

Word:
Blastula

Description:
Term to be rejected. See COELOBLASTULA.

Category:
Reproduction

Word:
Bud

Description:
An asexual reproductive body composed of various types of cells (e.g., Tethya spp., Axinella damicornis).

Category:
Reproduction

Word:
Carrier cell

Description:
Modified choanocyte that transports a captured spermatozoid to an oocyte

Category:
Reproduction

Word:
Cellules en croix

Description:
Nonflagellated cells arranged in tetraradial fashion in the amphiblastula of Calcaronea

Category:
Reproduction

Word:
Cinctoblastula

Description:
Hollow larva, entirely flagellated, with a central ring of pigmented cells; typical of Homoscleromorpha

Category:
Reproduction

Word:
Coeloblastula

Description:
Hollow larva composed of an envelope of morphologically similar equipotent cells, to which a few larger nonflagellated cells may be added at the posterior pole "Blastula" to be rejected.

Category:
Reproduction

No image available.

Word:
Fragmentation

Description:
Breakup of a sponge without concomitant formation of special reproductive bodies.

Category:
Reproduction

Word:
Gemmule

Description:
A resistant asexual reproductive body, composed of a mass of archaeocytes charged with reserves and enclosed in a noncellular protective envelope or coat

Category:
Reproduction

Word:
Micropyle

Description:
Opening in the gemmule coat through which cells leave a hatching gemmule (mp in figure).

Category:
Reproduction

Word:
Nurse cells

Description:
Cells that are incorporated in developing oocytes to provide nutrient material for further growth

Category:
Reproduction

Word:
Olynthus

Description:
Earliest developmental stage with a functional aquiferous system, with a single choanocyte chamber opening directly into the osculum; typical of some calcareous sponges

Category:
Reproduction

No image available.

Word:
Oviparity

Description:
Mode of reproduction in which embryo develops outside the parent sponge.

Category:
Reproduction

Word:
Parenchymella

Description:
Larva composed of an envelope of flagellated cells surrounding an internal mass of cells

Category:
Reproduction

Word:
Posterior pole

Description:
Pole opposite to anterior pole when larva is swimming, often without flagella.

Category:
Reproduction

Word:
Pseudogemmule

Description:
Accumulation of gemmular archaeocytes (crypt cells, tract cells) in basal cavities of a solid calcareous skeleton

Category:
Reproduction

No image available.

Word:
Reduction body

Description:
A multicellular mass resulting from the disorganization of a sponge and presumably capable of reorganizing into a new functional sponge.

Category:
Reproduction

Word:
Rhagon

Description:
Earliest functional stage with multiple choanocyte chambers and aquiferous canals, typical for Demospongiae

Category:
Reproduction

No image available.

Word:
"smoking"

Description:
Massive release of gametes.

Category:
Reproduction

Word:
Spermiocyst

Description:
Modified, encysted spermatozoid transported by a carrier cell to the oocyte

Category:
Reproduction

No image available.

Word:
Statoblast

Description:
Particular gemmule that lacks a complex spongin coat and is covered externally by megascleres; typical of the freshwater Potamolepidae.

Category:
Reproduction

Word:
Stomoblastula

Description:
Developmental stage of amphiblastulas that precedes the reversion stage and is characterized by internal flagella and a large opening through which the eversion occurs

Category:
Reproduction

Word:
Trichimella

Description:
Hexactinellid larva, distinguished by median zone with multiflagellated mononucleate cells between anterior and posterior poles; with special larval stauractin skeleton

Category:
Reproduction

Word:
Trophocyte

Description:
Nurse cell involved in the initial stages of gemmule and oocyte formation.

Category:
Reproduction

No image available.

Word:
Viviparity

Description:
Mode of reproduction in which internal fertilization and incubation of the embryo occur inside the parent sponge.

Category:
Reproduction

No image available.

Word:
Acanthophore

Description:
Spicule having two to six stout spined rays, typically surrounding the point of insertion of the root tuft in Hyalonema species.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

No image available.

Word:
Amararhysis

Description:
Paleontological term for longitudinal, tunnellike canal opening to the exhalant surface by slit-like apertures.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Ambucinate

Description:
Diactin with spines recurved toward the center

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Amphidisc

Description:
Dumbbell-shaped microsclere with ends developed into umbel-like expansions. Three size classes, termed macramphidisc, mesamphidisc, micramphidisc

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Anchor

Description:
Anchor-like spicule, protruding free from the basal part of the sponge; derived from diactine, triactine, or tetractine spicules, with terminal rays or spines, curved in the proximal direction along the main ray

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

No image available.

Word:
Apochete

Description:
Exhalant canal in fossil sponges.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

No image available.

Word:
Apopore

Description:
To be rejected; in fossil sponges, an opening forming an exit from an apochete (= osculum).

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

No image available.

Word:
Aporhysis

Description:
In fossil sponges, canal closed at the outer end (cf. epirhysis).

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Aspidoplumicome

Description:
Hexaster with numerous S-shaped terminal rays whose external curved ends form several successive tiers

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Autodermalia

Description:
Dermalia belonging wholly or at least primarily to the outer bounding skin, without actin protruding inside the sponge body

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Autogastralia

Description:
Gastralia with one actin protruding into the atrium

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Basalia

Description:
Spicules protruding from lower sponge surface; sometimes called root spicules, anchors, barbed basalia; in some species, forming a root tuft

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Basidictyonal plate

Description:
Rigid basal skeletal framework.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Calycocome

Description:
Hexaster with stout main rays and with terminal rays directed outward

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Canalaria

Description:
Spicules lining canals

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Clavule

Description:
Sceptrule with one terminal umbel or with terminal anchor teeth

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Codonhexactin

Description:
Discohexactin with long, dendate, umbel-like structures

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Comitalia

Description:
Parenchymalia located close and parallel to principalia

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Dermalia

Description:
Spicules of the external sponge surface. See AUTODERMALIA, HYPODERMALIA

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Diactin

Description:
Megascleres with two rays and frequently with central swellings indicating the hexactin origin.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

No image available.

Word:
Diarhysis

Description:
In fossil sponges, radial canal in the honeycomb- like skeleton of Aphrocallistidae.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Dictyonal skeleton (= dictyonine)

Description:
Three-dimensional network of fused, regular hexactins

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Dictyonalia

Description:
Spicules fused into a rigid framework.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Discohexactin

Description:
Hexactin with rays terminating in dentate, umbel-like structures

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Discohexaster

Description:
Hexaster with dentate, umbel-like terminal rays.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Discoctaster

Description:
Octaster with terminal rays ending in umbel-like disks

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Drepanocome

Description:
Hexaster with sickle-like terminations (genus Dictyaulus)

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

No image available.

Word:
Epirhysis

Description:
In fossil sponges, canal closed at inner end (cf. aporhysis).

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Fibule

Description:
Microsclere consisting of two bent rays derived from greatly reduced oxyhexaster (in Holascus fibulatus)

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Floricome

Description:
Discohexaster with S-shaped terminal rays that end in a plate provided with teeth or claws

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Gastralia

Description:
All spicules that line the main exhalant cavity. See AUTOGASTRALIA, HYPOGASTRALIA

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Graphicome (= graphihexaster)

Description:
Hexaster with long, thin, parallel branches forming terminal brushes

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Hemioxyhexaster

Description:
Hexaster in which two opposite rays are longer than the other four; the branched rays are reduced or absent (genus Aphrocallistes)

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Hexactin (hexact)

Description:
Siliceous spicule with six unbranched rays perpendicular to one another.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

No image available.

Word:
Hexadisc

Description:
Microhexactin with six actins ending in amphidisclike umbels

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Hexaster

Description:
Microsclere with six branched rays.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Hypodermalia

Description:
Dermalia with one actin protruding inside the body and the other ones tangential to the external surface

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Hypogastralia

Description:
Gastralia with one actin protruding inward, the other ones oriented tangentially to the atrium

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Intermedia

Description:
Parenchymalia situated among the principalia or dictyonalia

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Lophocome (= lophodiscohexaster)

Description:
Discohexaster with short, stout main rays and numerous slender secondary rays

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Lychnisc

Description:
Hexactin with a center resembling a perforated octohedron; building block of fused (dictyonal) framework called LYCHNISCA (lower two lychnics shown in optical section).

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Lychnisca

Description:
Dictyonal hexactin framework formed by lychnises

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Lyssacine

Description:
Spicular framework formed by the juxtaposition and interlacing of elongate rays of hexactins

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Marginalia

Description:
Prostalia that project in a wreath-like arrangement from the oscular margin

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

No image available.

Word:
Microhexactin

Description:
Hexactin microsclere.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Microholactin

Description:
Large category of microscleres lacking spines and appendages (Monorhaphis)

Synonyms:
Holactin

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

No image available.

Word:
Octactin

Description:
Spicule with eight rays, generally six in one plane, the other two perpendicular to them.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Octaster

Description:
Octactin microsclere with branched rays.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Onychaster (= onychohexaster, onychohexactin)

Description:
Hexaster with terminal rays ending in four actins that are perpendicular to the rays

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Orthodiactin

Description:
Diactin in which the two rays belong to different axes of a triaxon and form an angle of 90 degrees

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Oxy-

Description:
Prefix referring to radiate spicule types with rays gradually tapering to a point.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Pappocome

Description:
Graphicome-like spicule with diverging terminal rays

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Parenchymalia

Description:
All spicules in the choanosome

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Pentactin (pentact)

Description:
Five-rayed spicule.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Pinule

Description:
Pentact or hexact spicule with four basal rays and one perpendicular ray ornamented by obliquely set spines directed distally.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Pleuralia

Description:
Spicules protruding from lateral surface.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

No image available.

Word:
Posticum

Description:
Cf. apopore (= osculum); in fossil sponges.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Principalia

Description:
Spicules making up main skeletal framework

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

No image available.

Word:
Prosochete

Description:
In fossil sponges, inhalant canal leading to prosopore.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Prostalia

Description:
Spicules protruding from a surface

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Rhabdodiactin

Description:
Diactin in which the two rays are aligned in a single axis.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Sarule

Description:
Sceptrule with one end swollen and ornamented with distally directed spines

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Scepter

Description:
Uncinate marginalia, with spiny shaft acerated at one end; terminating in four very short actins at the other (Pheronematidae, genus Semperella)

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Sceptrule

Description:
A small, prostal monactin spicule exhibiting peculiar secondary developments at one end (order Hexactinosa).

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

No image available.

Word:
Schizorhysis

Description:
In fossil sponges, continuous system of interconected canal spaces (Tretodictyidae).

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Scopule

Description:
Fork-like sceptrule with one end branched (leptoscopule, pachyscopule).

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Sieve-plate

Description:
Perforated plate that covers the broad terminal opening of some tubular Hexactinellida (Euplectella spp.)

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Sigmatocome

Description:
Hexaster with long, S-shaped terminal rays (Dictyaulus)

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Sphaerohexactin (sphaerohexact)

Description:
Hexactin with rays ending in spherical knobs

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Sphaerohexaster

Description:
Hexaster with terminal rays ending in spherical knobs

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Spirodiscohexaster

Description:
Discohexaster with a bunch of terminal, spirally twisted rays (genus Rhabdodictyum)

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Stauractin

Description:
Reduced hexactin with four rays all arranged in one plane

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Stauraster

Description:
Reduced hexaster with four rays all arranged in one plane

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Strobiloplumicome

Description:
Plumicome with numerous slender terminal rays arranged in two concentric circles

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Synapticule

Description:
Bridges composed of siliceous cement joining spicules

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

No image available.

Word:
Tauactin

Description:
Large, smooth triactin (genus Monorhaphis).

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Tetractin

Description:
Spicule with four rays in one plane

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Tetradisc

Description:
Microsclere with four actins ending in amphidisc like umbels

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Tignule

Description:
Gigantic, isolated diactin (Hyalonema toxeres).

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Triactin

Description:
Spicule with three rays in one plane

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Triaxone

Description:
Spicule with three axes.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

No image available.

Word:
Trichaster

Description:
Graphicome (genus Trichasterina).

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Word:
Uncinate

Description:
Diactin covered with short spines directed distally (barbule); size classes are designated by macrouncinate, microuncinate

Synonyms:
Barbule , macruncinate , micruncinate

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

No image available.

Word:
Actine

Description:
A centered ray containing an axis or axial canal. See also CLAD.

Synonyms:
Ray

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Anchor

Description:
Anchor-like spicule, protruding free from the basal part of the sponge; derived from diactine, triactine, or tetractine spicules, with terminal rays or spines, curved in the proximal direction along the main ray

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Apical actine (ray)

Description:
The fourth actine of a tetractine that is joined to the basal triradiate system

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Articulate skeleton

Description:
Choanoskeleton composed of several rows of similar spicules

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Atrial spicule/skeleton

Description:
Spicules surrounding the atrium. Terms "gastral spicule/skeleton" are to be rejected.

Synonyms:
Gastral

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Basal triradiate system

Description:
The three rays of a tetractine that correspond to those of a triactine

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Calcareous spicule

Description:
A spicule composed largely of calcite having a radiate form, the number of rays being either two (diactine), three (triactine), or four (tetractine).

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Calcareous tripod

Description:
Regular triactine whose center is not in the same plane as the extremities of the recurved rays.

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Center

Description:
Point of union of the three rays of a triactine or of a basal triradiate system.

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Chiactine

Description:
Tetractine with the unpaired ray of the basal system and the apical ray in the same alignment

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Choanoskeleton

Description:
Skeleton of the part of the sponge that contains choanocytes

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Cortical spicule/skeleton

Description:
Spicule or skeleton of the external layer or cortex of the sponge ("dermal" spicule/skeleton, incorrect)

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Diactine

Description:
A spicule composed of two actines

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Diapason (tuning-fork spicule)

Description:
Sagittal triactine with parallel paired rays

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Facial plane

Description:
The plane passing through tips of the three rays of a triactine or of a basal triradiate system of a tetractine.

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Free actine

Description:
A ray that projects through the external or the atrial surface.

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Inarticulate skeleton

Description:
Choanoskeleton composed only of the unpaired rays of the subatrial spicules and of one of the rays of the cortical or subcortical spicules. Without specific spicules of the choanoskeleton

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Microanchor

Description:
A small tetractine anchor (described only from the atrial skeleton).

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Microdiactin

Description:
A small diactine spicule

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Needle-like biradiate

Description:
A diactine with a hole at one end

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Optic axis

Description:
The crystallographic trigonal axis of the calcite spicule.

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Paired actine(s)

Description:
One or both equivalent rays of a sagittal spicule. "Oscular" or "oral" rays to be rejected.

Synonyms:
Oral/oscular ray

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Parasagittal spicule

Description:
Bilaterally symmetrical triactine or tetractine with unequal actines, having equal angles (120 degrees) between the basal rays when projected into a plane perpendicular to the optic axis "Secondary sagittal spicule" to be rejected.

Synonyms:
Secondary sagittal spicule

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Pseudosagittal spicule

Description:
A subcortical triactine essentially sagittal, but having unequally long and differently curved rays on each side of the unpaired angle

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Regular spicule

Description:
Triactine or tetractine spicule with basal rays of equal length, and with equal angles (120 degrees) between them, when projected into a plane perpendicular to the optic axis

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Sagittal spicule

Description:
Triactine or tetractine with two equal angles (paired angles) and one dissimilar angle (unpaired angle) at the center, when projected into a plane perpendicular to the optic axis "Primary sagittal spicule" to be rejected.

Synonyms:
Primary sagittal spicule

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Scale

Description:
Disc-shaped microsclere forming ectosomal ("dermal") armor (genus Lepidosphera)

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Subatrial spicule

Description:
Sagittal spicule with paired rays adjacent to the atrial skeleton. "Subgastral spicule" to be rejected.

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Subcortical spicule

Description:
A pseudosagittal triactine, with unpaired actine and a shorter paired actine adjacent to the cortex, or a tetractine with basal triradiate system adjacent to the cortex.

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Subdermal spicule

Description:
Term to be rejected. See SUBCORTICAL SPICULE.

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Subgastral spicule

Description:
Term to be rejected. See SUBATRIAL SPICULE.

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Tangential spicule

Description:
Spicule arranged parallel to the surface.

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Tetractine

Description:
A spicule with four rays (in figure, sagittal tetractine at the top and regular tetractine at the bottom).

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Word:
Triactine

Description:
A spicule with three rays.

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Trichox

Description:
Thin, hair-like straight monaxon spicules present in general around the osculum or protruding from the cortex.

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Unpaired actine

Description:
In sagittal spicules, the ray of a triactine or of a triradiate basal system of a tetractine lying in the plane of bilateral symmetry. "Basal ray" to be rejected.

Synonyms:
Basal actine (ray)

Category:
Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Accessory spicule

Description:
A category of megasclere echinating the primary skeleton. See ECHINATING SPICULE.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Accretive

Description:
Regularly anisotropic reticulation with ascending (primary and radial) fibers or tracts and interconnecting fibers or tracts about equal in thickness

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Alveolate

Description:
Skeleton arranged around choanosomal cavities

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Anastomosing (= reticulate)

Description:
Tracts, lines, or fibers are interconnected

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Anisotropic skeleton

Description:
Reticulate skeleton with primary and secondary tracts, lines, or fibers

Synonyms:
Chalinid skeleton

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Axial skeleton

Description:
A type of skeletal organization in which some components are condensed to form a central region or axis

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Axinellid skeleton

Description:
Structure with a dense core of parallel fibers or strands fanning out toward the periphery of a sponge See also PLUMOSE or PLUMORETICULATE.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Bark

Description:
The dense area of compacted spongin surrounding the central zone in pithed fibers

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Basal spongin plate

Description:
A spongin layer covering the substratum

Synonyms:
Basal lamina

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Bouquet

Description:
Ectosomal brush of spicules perpendicular to the surface of the sponge, with pointed ends outward.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Choanosomal skeleton

Description:
Skeleton of the main body, supporting the canal system and responsible for the form of the sponge.

Synonyms:
Endosomal skeleton , main skeleton , primary skeleton , principal skeleton

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Choristid (= astrophorid)

Description:
Predominantly radiate, occasionally confused arrangement of megascleres including triaenes with cladome outward, lacking spongin, and commonly with a cortex.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Clathrate skeleton

Description:
Polyhedral arrangement of fibroreticulate sheets

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Clathriid skeleton

Description:
Isodictyal or subisodictyal arrangement of fibers cored and/or echinated by styles in the family Microcionidae

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Collagen fascicle

Description:
A dense band of intercellular collagen fibrils, which has a skeletal role in some sponges (e.g., genus Chondrosia)

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Compound (= fasciculate, trellised) fiber

Description:
Several fibers merged or intricately interconnected

Synonyms:
Fasciculate fiber , fibrofascicle , trellised fiber

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Confused skeleton

Description:
Irregularly positioned megascleres.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Cored fiber

Description:
A fiber that incorporates indigenous spicules or foreign material (spicules and sediment); coring may be light and limited to a central axis or may fill in the whole fiber

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Cortex

Description:
A superficial region of a sponge reinforced by a special organic or inorganic skeleton

Synonyms:
Crust

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Cortical skeleton

Description:
Ectosomal skeleton reinforced by a layer of special skeleton elements.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Cuticle

Description:
A spongin layer covering the surface or a part of the surface of a sponge.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Dendritic skeleton

Description:
A skeleton consisting of single or ramifying fibers or tracts that branch but rarely anastomose (tree-like branching)

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Dendroreticulate fiber skeleton

Description:
Ambiguous, to be rejected.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Echinating spicule

Description:
Megasclere that protrudes from the spon gin plate, a fiber, or a spicule tract

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Ectosomal skeleton

Description:
Skeleton found in the superficial region of a sponge, distinct from that of the choanosome.

Synonyms:
Dermal skeleton , ectosomal crust

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Extra-axial skeleton

Description:
Structurally distinct skeleton arising from or surrounding an axial region

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Fiber (or fibre)

Description:
A column (strand, thread) of spongin forming a reticulate or dendritic skeleton, with or without indige nous spicules or foreign material.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Fibroreticulate

Description:
Forming a net composed of fibers.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Halichondrioid skeleton

Description:
Confused skeleton except at the surface; choanosomal skeleton may be in vague tracts

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Hispidation

Description:
Spicules projecting through the pinacoderm.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Homogeneous fiber

Description:
A fiber without central pith and without conspicuous layers

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Hymedesmioid (= leptoclathriid) skeleton

Description:
Skeleton of encrusting sponge where monactine megascleres are arranged singly with heads fixed to a basal plate of spongin and points directed outward

Synonyms:
Leptoclathriid

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Interstitial (= auxiliary) spicule

Description:
Free choanosomal spicule not included in tracts or fibers, common in subectosomal skeleton

Synonyms:
Auxiliary spicule

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Irciniid filament

Description:
Long, slender (0.5-15 urn thick) spongin element, terminally knobbed; intertwined or free in the sponge body

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Isodictyal reticulation

Description:
Isotropic reticulation in which the meshes are triangular and have sides one spicule long

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Isotropic reticulation

Description:
Reticulation without differentiation into primary or secondary fibers, tracts, or lines.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Laminated (= stratified) fiber

Description:
A fiber in which concentric layers are visible

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Lax (= loose, vague) skeleton

Description:
Skeleton lacking clear tracts or fibers

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Lipo-

Description:
Prefix meaning without.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Lithistid skeleton

Description:
Main skeleton consisting of an interlocked assemblage of desmas

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Microcionid

Description:
Structure of microcionid sponges in which spicules project from an elevation of the basal plate of spongin

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Multispicular fiber (tract)

Description:
Fiber or tract composed of six or more spicules adjacent to one another.

Synonyms:
Plurispicular , polyserial , polyspicular

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Node

Description:
Junction of spicule tips cemented by spongin.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Palisade

Description:
Perpendicular arrangement of ectosomal spicules, with points directed outward

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Paratangential skeleton

Description:
Arrangement of ectosomal spicules intermediate between the palisade and tangential type

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Parchment

Description:
Tangential ectosomal skeleton in which the megascleres are arranged in a tight feltwork

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Paucispicular fiber (tract)

Description:
Fiber or tract with two to five megascleres adjacent to one another

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Pith

Description:
Central area of a fiber made up of more or less diffuse wisps of collagen or of a coarsely granular collagen material. See PITHED FIBER.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Pithed fiber

Description:
A fiber in which pith is easily distinguished from the surrounding bark.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Plumoreticulate skeleton

Description:
A type of plumose skeletal construction in which cross-connections occur

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Plumose skeleton

Description:
A type of skeletal construction made of primary fibers or spicule tracts from which skeletal elements radiate obliquely

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Primary (= main, ascending) fiber

Description:
An ascending fiber ending at a right angle to the surface

Synonyms:
Longitudinal fiber/tract , ascending fiber/tract/line

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Primary spicule

Description:
The major structural megasclere in any particular sponge.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Radiate skeleton

Description:
A type of skeleton in which the structural components diverge from a central region toward the sponge surface

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Reticulate skeleton

Description:
Three-dimensional network of fibers, tracts, lines, or single spicules.

Synonyms:
Renieroid skeleton

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Secondary (= connecting) fiber

Description:
In a reticulate skeleton, a fiber that links the primary fibers.

Synonyms:
Connective tracts, lines, fibers

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Skeleton

Description:
All structures supporting and protecting the sponge body.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Spiculation

Description:
General term for spicule complement.

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Spicule

Description:
A component of the mineral skeleton, typically composed of silica or calcium carbonate

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Spiculoid (= spongin spicule)

Description:
A spongin component of the skeleton that has the form of a diactinal, triactinal, or polyactinal spicule

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Spongin

Description:
Skeletal substance in Demospongiae made up of collagen microfibrils of ~10 fim diameter.

Synonyms:
Collagen

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Sublithistid skeleton

Description:
Skeleton consisting of a loose assemblage of desmas

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Tangential skeleton

Description:
Ectosomal skeleton arranged parallel to the surface (figure shows upper right, view from the top).

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Tertiary fiber

Description:
In a reticulate skeleton, a fiber interconnecting the secondary fibers

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Tract

Description:
A column of aligned megascleres (figure shows two types of tract).

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Unispicular fiber, tract

Description:
A single aligned row of megascleres

Category:
Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Word:
Astrorhiza

Description:
Traces of the excurrent canal system on or within a rigid skeleton that appear as radiating or star-shaped grooves.

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Cemented (fused) spicule

Description:
Interlocked or adjacent spicules firmly linked by calcareous cement; the cement may be restricted to the junction area or may progressively encase the entire spicule

Synonyms:
Fused

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Coenosteum

Description:
Term for cnidarians, used for the solid skeleton in stromatoporoids; to be rejected for sponges in favor of rigid calcareous skeleton.

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Column

Description:
Radial skeletal element in stromatoporoids, with a greater degree of continuity and larger than PILLARS.

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Corallite (= calyx)

Description:
In cnidarians, term for the external skeleton of a polyp; to be rejected for sponges in favor of PSEUDOCALYX.

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Crypt tissue

Description:
Masses of thesocyte-like cells lodged within the basal crypts (chambers) of the calcareous skeleton (see ct in figure).

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Crystal ultrastructure

Description:
Organization of the skeletal crystals observed after special preparation showing the relationship between organic and mineral phases.

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Entrapped spicules

Description:
Calcareous or siliceous spicules that are not part of the primary spicule framework but are progressively enclosed within a solid skeleton during growth

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Epitheca

Description:
A thin, wrinkled, calcareous layer, different in structure from the normal skeleton, covering the dead basal part of a rigid calcareous skeleton

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Fascicular fibrous (= water-jet, penicillate, trabecular) microstructure

Description:
Crystal fibers fanning outward and radiating upward. In the penicillate type (e.g., Ceratoporella), crystal fibers are feebly divergent; in the water-jet type (e.g., Merlia), crystal fibers progressively fan outward around the growth axis; in the trabecular type (cnidarian, unknown in sponges), the crystal fibers are symmetrically arranged around the growth axis and axial fibers are absent

Synonyms:
Penicillate , trabecular , water jet

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Filling (tissue) structure

Description:
Secondary calcareous skeleton that partitions or fills abandoned parts of the skeleton.

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Foramen

Description:
Circular pore in laminae connecting adjoining interlamellar spaces (fo in figure, which also shows cc = choanocyte chamber; ct = crypt tissue; sk = rigid aspicular skeleton; spi = spicule; and ta = tabula).

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Irregular (felt) microstructure

Description:
Structure in which tangled crystal fibers have no preferred orientation (e.g., genus Vaceletia). Shape and nature of the crystal fiber may be diverse

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Lamina

Description:
Calcareous plate in stromatoporoids, perpendicular to radial skeletal components

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Latilamina

Description:
A macroscopic, banded calcareous skeletal plate in stromatoporoids

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Linked spicules

Description:
Spicules that are interlocked by zygosis, without cement

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Mamelon

Description:
Rounded regular or irregular elevation of the skeleton surface; may or may not show correlation with astrorhizae

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Microgranular microstructure

Description:
Diverse structure in which small, round elements are scattered

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Microlamellar microstructure

Description:
Structure in which the crystal fibers are disposed in criss-cross layers, mostly parallel to the surface of the skeleton (e.g., genus Acanthochaetetes)

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Microstructure

Description:
The arrangement of crystals that form the skeletal components, as seen without special preparations.

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Orthogonal microstructure

Description:
Microstructure in which the crystal fibers are in perpendicular and radial orientation relative to a central axis

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Pillar

Description:
Radial skeletal component, relatively short compared with COLUMN

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Primary calcareous skeleton

Description:
Initially formed skeletal components

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Primary spicule framework

Description:
Framework of spicules around which a cement is deposited

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Pseudocalyx (pl. pseudocalices)

Description:
One of a group of skeletal tubes - closely packed together, mostly hexagonal in shape and containing the live material - that resemble the calices or corallites of cnidarians.

Synonyms:
Calyx

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Rigid aspicular skeleton

Description:
Skeleton that originates from the direct secretion of aspicular elements made up of calcium carbonate; siliceous or calcareous spicules may be secondarily entrapped in the skeleton during the growth process (sk in figure).

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Rigid spicular skeleton

Description:
A skeleton in which the main framework is first made up of fused or linked spicules that may later be invested by an aspicular cement

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Sclerodermite

Description:
Aggregate of crystals forming a microstructural unit of the calcareous skeleton

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

images/secondary calcareous skeleton.JPG

Word:
Secondary calcareous skeleton

Description:
Skeletal components formed after the deposition of the primary calcareous skeleton

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Spherulitic (= spheroidal) microstructure

Description:
Globular (centric or excentric) arrangement of crystal fibers radiating from a common center (e.g., genus Astrosclerd)

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Tabula

Description:
Plate or floor that partitions the basal part of a skeletal cavity (ta in figure).

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

No image available.

Word:
Tabulate osculum

Description:
Osculum in stromatoporoids that has been repeatedly partitioned by secondarily deposited tabulae.

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Zygosis

Description:
Mode of junction between siliceous and calcareous tetraradiates characterized by the interlocking of their terminal or lateral expansions; cement, if present, is secondary.

Category:
Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Word:
Acantho-

Description:
Prefix meaning spined, as in acanthostyle or acanthomicrorhabd

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Acerate

Description:
Pointed like a needle; adjective referring to the extremities of megascleres. See OXEA.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Actine

Description:
A centered ray containing an axis or axial canal. See also CLAD.

Synonyms:
Ray

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Ala

Description:
One of the thin, wing-like or spatulate structures in each recurved portion of a chela. The anterior ala is the one facing the shaft; others are lateral alae. See CHELA.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Amphiaster

Description:
A microsclere with microspined rays radiating from both ends of a shaft; the rays are shorter than the shaft

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Amphitriaene

Description:
A double triaene with a short rhabd bearing two opposed cladomes

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Anatriaene

Description:
A triaene in which the clads are sharply curved backward

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Anchorate chela

Description:
An isochela with three or more free alae (at each end) in the form of recurved processes shaped like anchor claws (unguiferous) or anchor blades (spatuliferous); with two incipient lateral alae fused with the shaft over their entire length and a gently curved, not abruptly arched shaft. An anchorate chela with three teeth is called a tridendate chela.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Angulate

Description:
Sharply bent; referring to overall spicule shape, as in oxea or sigmas. See OXEA.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Aniso-

Description:
Prefix meaning unequal; generally referring to the ends of a spicule; see ANISOCHELA.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Antho-

Description:
Prefix meaning thorny.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Anthosigma

Description:
A special form of spiraster (genus Anthosig mella; = Cliona); to be rejected.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Anthaster

Description:
An euaster with tuberculate, denticulate, or spined, sometimes digitate, expansions at the ray tips (Chondrilla grandis)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Arcuate chela

Description:
An isochela with three free alae and the shaft characteristically curved outward, often bow-shaped.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Aspidaster

Description:
An elongate-compressed microsclere in which the numerous rays are fused and end in minute spinose projections (Erylus spp.)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Asymmetric

Description:
Adjective referring to the extremities of a megasclere. See OXEA.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Axial filament

Description:
The organic core around which a siliceous spicule is organized.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Bipocillum

Description:
A modified anisochela with fused alae connected by a short curved shaft (genus Iophon)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Birotula

Description:
A type of microsclere with a straight shaft and umbrella-shaped ends

Synonyms:
Amphidisc

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Blunt

Description:
Adjective referring to the extremities of megascleres. See OXEA.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Candelabrum

Description:
A special form of lophocalthrop characterized by branching, multispined rays

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Canonochela

Description:
Modified, ellipsoid isochela with wing-like extensions on one (the "bottom") side (genus Cercidochela)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Centrotriaene

Description:
A triaene with three clads and two small rhabds (genus Triptolemus)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Centrotylote

Description:
Spicule with a median tyle (globular swelling). See OXEA.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Chela

Description:
A microsclere with a curved shaft and recurved ala at each end.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Chiastosigma

Description:
Microsclere composed of two crossed sigmas (genus Chiastosia)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Clad

Description:
Any ray or axial branch containing an axis or axial canal confluent with that of the protoclad or protorhabd in any type of spicule; term chiefly used in triaene spicules.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Cladotylote

Description:
Monaxon megasclere, one end with knobs, the other with hooks

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Cleistochela

Description:
A chela with the ends (anterior alae) very close to each other (e.g., Clathria echinata)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Conical (= abruptly pointed)

Description:
Adjective referring to the extremities of megascleres. See OXEA.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Cri-

Description:
Prefix indicating spiral or annulate ornamentation, as in cricalthrop (genus Sphinctrella)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Curved

Description:
Referring to spicule shape (may be symmetrical or asymmetrical). See OXEA.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Cyrtancistra

Description:
A sigma with semilanceolated extremities (genus Pozziella)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Deuteroclad

Description:
An actinal branch or a distal, branched portion of a ray. See DICHOTRIAENE.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Diancistra

Description:
A microsclere with hooked, knife-shaped ends, notched where they join the shaft and in the middle of the shaft (genus Hamacantha)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Dichotriaene

Description:
An ortho or plagiotriaene in which the clads are bifurcate

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Didiscorhabd

Description:
Microxea or microstrongyle ornamented by two discs along the shaft (genus Didiscus)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Diplaster

Description:
An astrose microsclere in which the rays or spines radiate from two, slightly distant, points

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Discaster

Description:
A collective term for DISCORHABD and SCEPTRUM; to be rejected.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Dischela

Description:
A modified isochela whose disc-shaped alae are very close to each other and connected on their margins by two extremely reduced shafts (genus Coelodischela)

Synonyms:
Coelodischela

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Discorhabd (= sceptrum)

Description:
A rod-shaped microsclere with several smooth or serrated discs along the shaft (genera Latrunculia, Podospongia, Sceptrinus)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Discotriaene

Description:
A triaene with a disc-shaped cladome. The single clads may be distinguished by the presence of short axial canals (genus Discodermia)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Equal

Description:
Adjective referring to the extremities of megascleres. See OXEA.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Euaster

Description:
A collective term for astrose microscleres in which the rays radiate from a central point

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Exotyle

Description:
Styles or tylostyles with enlarged or omated distal end, projecting from the sponge surface

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Fimbria

Description:
Narrow structure, similar to an ala, flanking the shaft of an anchorate chela

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Flexuous (= sinuous, wavy)

Description:
Referring to the spicule shape. See OXEA.

Synonyms:
Sinuous

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Fusiform

Description:
Shape of a monactin spicule, tapering regularly toward a point. See OXEA.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Hastate

Description:
Spicule remaining isodiametric for most of its length, with the point or points tapering abruptly. See OXEA.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Hilum

Description:
A more or less distinct, funnel-shaped depression in the surface of a STERRASTER, situated on one side in ellipsoidal forms; also occurs in ASPIDASTERS in reduced form, resembling an umbilicus.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Iso-

Description:
Prefix meaning equal (generally referring to the ends of a spicule).

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Lopho-

Description:
Prefix for categories of spicules having one or more rays affected by multiple, sometimes complex, branching (lophate spicules); see LOPHOCALTHROP.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Lophocalthrop

Description:
Modified calthrop with one (monoloph), three (triloph), or four (tetraloph) rays

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Mesotriaene

Description:
A triaene in which the rhabd is extended beyond the cladome

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Metaster

Description:
A microsclere with a twisted shaft no longer than the spines; intermediate between plesiaster and spi raster

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Micro-

Description:
Prefix used for naming microscleres that are similar in shape to megascleres (e.g., microxea, microstyle).

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Microrhabd

Description:
A general term for a straight, monaxonic microsclere.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

No image available.

Word:
Microsclere

Description:
Small spicule, often ornate in shape.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

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Word:
Monaxon

Description:
Linear, nonradiate spicule, or a spicule type not having more than two rays along one axis.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

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Word:
Mucronate

Description:
Adjective referring to the nipple-like point of a megasclere. See OXEA.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Orthotriaene

Description:
A triaene in which the clads are directed at right angles to the rhabd

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Oxea

Description:
Monaxon (diactinal) spicule pointed at both ends (a-m in figure). Different types are distinguished by shape and tip morphology. Shape may be fusiform (a), angulate (b), centrotylote (c), curved (d), or flexuous (e). Tips may be acerate (f), asymmetrical (g), blunt (h), conical (i), hastate (j), mucronate (k), stepped (1), or symmetrical (m).

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Oxy-

Description:
Prefix referring to radiate spicule types with rays gradually tapering to a point.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Oxyaster

Description:
An euaster with acerate free rays and a small centrum less than one-third the diameter of the whole spicule)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Palmate chela

Description:
An iso- or anisochela in which the lateral alae coalesce with the shaft over their entire length, and the single, median, anterior ala (one at each end) stands free and widens distally

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Placochela

Description:
A special type of isochela with plate-like alae. The alae and the shaft are internally ornamented by radial ridges (genus Guitarra)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Plagiotriaene

Description:
A triaene in which the clads are directed forward and form with the rhabd an angle of about 45 degrees, and may be recurved distally

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Plesiaster

Description:
A streptaster with a very short shaft (always shorter than the spines)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Polytylote

Description:
Megasclere with several annular swelling along its shaft

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

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Word:
Protoclad

Description:
The proximal, unbranched portion of a branched ray. See DICHOTRIAENE.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

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Word:
Protorhabd

Description:
The original simple shaft of ornamented monaxons and of triaenes.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Protriaene

Description:
A triaene in which the clads are directed or sharply curved forward, away from the rhabd

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

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Word:
Pycnaster

Description:
A small euaster in which the rays are merely low conules; to be rejected.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Raphide

Description:
A very thin, hair-like microsclere, often in bundles called trichodragmas

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

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Word:
Rhabd

Description:
A collective term for a monaxonic megasclere, later applied to the one ray of a triaene that is distinct from the other three, mostly in length (= rhabdome).

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

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Word:
Rhabdome

Description:
The rhabd of a triaene and of a triaene-derived spicule.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Sanidaster

Description:
A rhabd-derived, straight microsclere having spines at intervals along the entire length. Spines along the shaft are perpendicular to the axis and may or may not be spirally arranged; those at the ends diverge obliquely (e.g., genera Tribrachium, Disyringa)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Scale

Description:
Disc-shaped microsclere forming ectosomal ("dermal") armor (genus Lepidosphera)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Selenaster

Description:
A special type of spiraster approaching the shape of a sterraster (genus Placospongia)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Sigmaspire

Description:
A contorted-sigmoid microspined microsclere (family Tetillidae)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

images/spatuliferous-anchorate chela.JPG

Word:
Spatuliferous-anchorate chela (= ancora spatulifera)

Description:
An anchorate chela (usually isochela) having alae that are completely free from the shaft and that are spatulate or shaped like anchor teeth

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Sphaerancora

Description:
Modified isochela, consisting of two ellipsoid ridged plates intersecting at right angles (genus Melonanchora)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Spheraster

Description:
An euaster with short rays and a thick centrum; the diameter of the centrum (more than one-half the total diameter) exceeds the length of the rays

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Spheroxyaster

Description:
Euaster with a discrete centrum that is more than one-third the total diameter

Synonyms:
Oxyspheraster

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Spiraster (= spinispira)

Description:
Spiral, rod-shaped microsclere with spines peripherally arranged.

Synonyms:
Spinispira

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

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Word:
Stepped (= "telescoped")

Description:
Adjective referring to the extremities of a megasclere. See OXEA.

Synonyms:
Telescoped

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Sterraster

Description:
A spherical or ellipsoidal microsclere in which the numerous rays are fused and end in stellate terminations (e.g., genus Geodia).

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

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Word:
Sterrospheraster

Description:
Ball-shaped euaster with numerous conical or flattened, often denticulate or tuberculate protuberances; to be rejected. See STERRASTER.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Streptaster

Description:
Aster in which the rays proceed from an axis that is usually spiral

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Strongylaster (= chiaster)

Description:
Aster with free, isodiametric, blunt rays

Synonyms:
Chiaster

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Strongyle

Description:
An isodiametric, diactinal megasclere with rounded ends

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Style

Description:
Monaxon spicule with one end pointed, the other (head or base) blunt

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Subtylostyle

Description:
Tylostyle with one end pointed, the other with a slight swelling or knob; the swelling, more or less distinct, may be displaced along the shaft

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

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Word:
Symmetrica

Description:
Adjective referring to the extremities of megascleres. See OXEA.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Tetrapocillum

Description:
A rare, modified isochela having two small disks both at the extremities and in the middle of a straight shaft; the two in the middle are fused (genus Tetrapocillon)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Thaumatochela

Description:
A rare, minute anisochela with the smaller extremity jar- or slipper-shaped and partly enveloped by four alae issuing from the opposite end and forming an umbrella-like structure (Mycale thaumatochela).

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Thraustoxa

Description:
Toxa-like, smooth to spinose microsclere, double- bent in the middle and often with central swelling (genus Rhabderemia)

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Tornote

Description:
A straight, isodiametric, diactinal megasclere with conical or mucronate extremities

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Triaene

Description:
General term for a tetractinal megasclere having one unequal ray (termed rhabd) that is commonly much longer than the other three (termed clads, forming the cladome).

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Trichodragma (pl. trichodragmas or trichodragmata)

Description:
A bundle of raphids.

Synonyms:
Dragma

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

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Word:
Trichotriaene

Description:
A triaene in which the clads are trifurcate.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

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Word:
Tridentate chela

Description:
A chela with three free alae. See also ANCHORATE CHELA.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Triod

Description:
Triact in which the rays are equal, straight, in one plane, and diverging at an angle of 120 degrees.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Truncaster

Description:
Aster with crowded, blunt rays (genus Rhabdastrella).

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

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Word:
Tuberculate

Description:
Spicule ornamented with blunt knobs.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

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Word:
Unequal

Description:
Adjective referring to the extremities of megascleres. See also ANISO-.

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

Word:
Unguiferous-anchorate chela (= ancora unguifera)

Description:
An anchorate chela in which the recurved processes are in the form of claws or sickles and are normally connected to the shaft by expansions called falces

Category:
Spicules of Demospongiae

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Word:
Amphitrider

Description:
Tetraclone resembling an amphitriaene.

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

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Word:
Anaxial desma

Description:
Desma without central axis.

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

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Word:
Anomoclone

Description:
To be rejected. See ASTROCLONE, SPHAEROCLONE.

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

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Word:
Brachyome

Description:
Shortened arm of a trider.

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

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Word:
Chiastoclone

Description:
Dendroclone with a very short central shaft.

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

No image available.

Word:
Clone

Description:
Ray-like arm that is entirely anaxial.

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

Word:
Crepis

Description:
The fundamental, inceptional body of a desma before it is modified by deposition of multiple layers of silica. A monocrepid desma develops from a monaxon spicule that is recognized by a straight, undivided axial thread (canal); a tetracrepid desma is based on a tetraxon spicule with a four-rayed axial thread (a small calthrops; see bottom of figure); an acrepid desma is based on a polyaxon fundamental structure lacking axial threads.

Synonyms:
Acrepis , monocrepid , tetracrepid

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

Word:
Dendroclone

Description:
Desma with branched ends or tetracladine, amphitrider-like; always positioned perpendicular to skeletal fibers.

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

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Word:
Desma (= desmome)

Description:
A typical interlocked megasclere with hypertrophic terminal secretion of silica.

Synonyms:
Desmome

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

Word:
Dicranoclone

Description:
Tuberculate monaxial desma, arch shaped, tripodal, tetrapodal, or rarely polygonal; zygomes are terminal, like those of the tetraclone.

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

No image available.

Word:
Epirhabd

Description:
Part of the developed desma formed by the deposition of concentric layers immediately around the crepis.

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

Word:
Heloclone

Description:
Desma with elongate and usually sinuous shaft, without branches, possibly with small digitations at the ends; the zygomes are lateral notches. An axial canal is usually found along most of the length of the spicule

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

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Word:
Linked spicules

Description:
Spicules that are interlocked by zygosis, without cement

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

Word:
Megaclone

Description:
Arch-shaped desma with a short crepis. The zygomes vary from oblique lateral facets to tongue- or hand-like terminal expansions

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

No image available.

Word:
Mesotrider

Description:
Tetraclone with a mesotriaene crepis.

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

Word:
Rhizoclone

Description:
Nontuberculate irregular monaxial desma, with spiny to root-like zygomes that are usually mainly lateral

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

Word:
Sphaeroclone

Description:
Anaxial desma in which several ray-like arms extend from one side of a globular centrum that is spiny on the other side

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

Word:
Tetraclone

Description:
Tetraxial desma that does not show a triaenose symmetry; the zygomes are typically terminal.

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

No image available.

Word:
Trider

Description:
Variant of tetraclone, with triaenose symmetry and three similar arms.

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

No image available.

Word:
Zygome

Description:
Part of a desma that interlocks with another spicule.

Category:
Spicule Types of "Lithistids"

The Thesaurus of Sponge Morphology

Section 1: Macroscopical Features: Habit, Surface Characteristics, and Consistency

Section 2: Anatomy and Aquiferous System

Section 3: Cytology

Section 4: Reproduction

Section 5: Architecture of the Skeleton and Spicules of Hexactinellida

Section 6: Calcareous Spicules and Calcareous Spicule Skeleton

Section 7: Architecture of the Skeleton of Demospongiae

Section 8: Calcareous Rigid Skeleton

Section 9: Spicules of Demospongiae

Section 10: Spicule Types of "Lithistids"