A database of sponge spicules

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Intro
- Sponge classes
- Poriferan tissue and skeleton
Spicules
Glossary
Contact

Home
Intro
- Sponge classes
- Poriferan tissue and skeleton
Spicules
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.

Acerate

Definition

Pointed like a needle; with a gradual thinning of the spicule tip; for example, acerate oxea.

Photos

No photos included.

Browse spicules

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by Name
by Taxonomic group
Glossary

Information

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Acknowledgements

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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