3 types of spicules in sponges

Sponge spicules refer to the skeleton of the simplest multicellular organism, sponges, which grow in marine or freshwater environments. The main skeleton and support are glass fiber-like spicules. There are about 10,000 known sponges, which are mainly divided into 3 types of spicules in sponges based on the composition and shape of the spicules. Let us learn about the 3 types of spicules in sponges through this article.

1. Calcarea

It has calcareous spicules, small body, grayish white, single groove or double groove type of water channel. It often lives in shallow sea areas. Such as Leucosolenia, Grantia, etc.

2. Hexactinellida

It has six-radial siliceous spicules, large body, double groove type of water channel, and large flagella chamber. It mostly lives in deep sea areas. Such as Hyalonema and Euplectella.

3. Demopongiae

Non-hexagonal siliceous spicules or sponge filaments, with complex grooves, small flagellar chambers, and irregular body shapes. They live in freshwater or seawater. Those that live in seawater include Cliona and Euspongia; those that live in freshwater include Spongilla. Most of the medicinal species belong to Demopongiae. Common ones include Sp0ngilla fragilis Lecidy and Ephydatiamullerivar. Japonica (Higendorf).

Two of the above 3 types of spicules in sponges have glass fiber-like siliceous spicules as their main skeleton and support. Recently, people have discovered the unique microstructure and good optical fiber properties of siliceous sponge spicules, especially pointing out that these properties bring new ideas for human beings to manufacture optical fibers, and quickly aroused scientists' extensive research interests in biology, mineralogy and bionics on its structure, properties, growth mechanism and regulation.

In short, the 3 types of spicules in sponges are calcareous spicules, hexaradial siliceous spicules, and non-hexaradial siliceous spicules. Different types of sponges have spicules that are either separated from each other or form a loose or solid grid to support the body according to a certain structure. Therefore, the type, number and arrangement of spicules can be used as the basis for the classification of sponges.