Spicules.org Spicules.org

A database of sponge spicules

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    • Sponge classes
    • Poriferan tissue and skeleton
  • Spicules
    • by Photo
    • by Name
    • by Taxonomic group
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  • Home
  • Intro
    • Sponge classes
    • Poriferan tissue and skeleton
  • Spicules
    • by Photo
    • by Name
    • by Taxonomic group
  • Glossary
  • Contact

Spicules.org is a database of sponge spicules organized by photo, name, and taxonomic group. The website is based on a research paper led by Dr. Magdalena Łukowiak (Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences) and co-authored by an international team of sponge experts.

Glossary

A

Acanth(o)
Acerate
Aciculo
Actine
Ala (pl. alae)
Alae
Amphi
Ana
Anaxial
Anchorate
Aniso
Antho
Apex
Apical actin(e)
Apical cone
Aster (astro‐)
Astro(se)
Axial
Axial canal
Axial filament

B

Brachyome

C

Calyco
Capitulum
Chia(sto)
Centro(a)
Centrotylote
Cladome
Clad(us) (pl. cladi)
Clavate
Clone
Conical
Cri(co)
Crepis

D

Dendro
Desmoid
Deuteroclad
Disco

E

Epirhabd

F

Falx (pl. falces)
Fimbriae (pl.)
Flexuous
Fringe
Fusiform

H

Hastate
Hemi(y)
Hexa
Hilum

I

Iso

L

Lanceolate
Lopho(u(se)

M

Manubrium
Mega
Meso
Micro
Mucronate

N

Nodulose

O

Onycho
Ortho
Oxy

P

Paired actin(e)
Paratropal
Primary
Pro
Proto
Pseudo

R

Rhabd(ome)
Ray
Rosette

S

Sclere
Secondary
Shaft
Sigmodragma
Sigmoid(al)
Sph(a)er(o)
Spir(o)
Spur
Stauro(a)
Stellate
Strongylo(te)
Sub

T

Tine
Toxiform
Toxodragma
Trichodragma
Trochi
Tyle(o)
Typh(oid(al)

U

Umbel
Unpaired actin(e)

V

Vermicular
Verticillate

W

Whorl

Z

Zygome

Symbol Spicules.org (white)

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Cite the paper

Please cite the following paper when using this website in your study:

Łukowiak, M., Van Soest, R., Klautau, M., Pérez, T., Pisera, A. & K. Tabachnick. 2022. The terminology of sponge spicules. Journal of Morphology 283 (12): 1517–1545. doi:10.1002/jmor.21520

© 2026 Magdalena Łukowiak
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