PORIFERA

Study Questions

1. How do you differentiate a siliceous spicule from a calcareous spicule? Is there

any particular shape which is characteristic of one or the other?

Calcareous spicules are composed chiefly of calcium carbonate in crystalline

forms; e.g., calcite, aragonite, and are characteristic of the Calcarea. Siliceous spicules,
found in the Demospongiae and in the Hexactinellida, are made essentially of silicic
acid.

In terms of shape, Calcareous spicules usually have one axis (monoaxon) which is
usually pointed at both ends; these spicules are called oxeas. There are also other
shapes like triaxons which have three rays called triacts; tetraxons have four rays and
are called tetracts.

Siliceous spicules of Class Hexactinellida are triaxon forms with three orthogonal
axes (six rays). Spicules in Demospongiae consist of both megascleres and
microscleres. The megascleres may be monaxons with both ends pointed (oxeas), with
one end pointed and the other rounded (styles), or with both ends rounded (strongyles).
If one end is swollen styles are called tylostyles and strongyles tylostrongyles; the
spicules with both ends swollen are called tylotes. If the surface of the spicules is spiny
instead of smooth, the spicules are called, respectively, acanthoxeas, acanthostyles, and
acanthostrongyles. The megascleres also include triacts with three rays and tetracts,
called calthrops, with four rays. Tetracts with one axis (rhabdome) longer than the other
three (collectively the cladome) are called protriaenes, plagiotriaenes, anatriaenes, or
dichotriaenes, depending on the way the rays of the cladome are directed.

All of the microscleres apparently are derived from a spherical type with many
axons (polyaxon); the result is a series of star-shaped spicules, or asters, with various
numbers of rays. Spicules with rays missing or reduced (called spheres, sterrasters, and
discasters) often form a protective armour around the sponge. More specialized types of
microscleres include sigmas, toxas, chelas, and anchoras; the last two have plates or
teeth at each end and may be distinguished as isochelas and isanchoras or anisochelas
and anisanchoras

Source: Skeleton. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/animal/sponge-

animal/Skeleton#ref407672

2. What is gemmule formation? Is there a time frame when they are being produced?
What factors can initiate formation and release of gemmules?
 Gemmules are a small collection of several different types of cells that are enclosed
by a protective covering. It is an asexually reproduced mass of cells that is capable of
developing into a new adult sponge. When surrounding environment becomes
unfavorable, gemmule formation is initiated. Gemmules are resistant to desiccation
(drying out), freezing, and anoxia (lack of oxygen) and can lie around for long periods of
time. When the environment becomes less hostile, the gemmule resumes growing.

3. Describe the means by which water is brought in and out if the organism has
an asconoid type of canal system? leuconoid? synconoid? What causes the water
movement?

In sponges, water enters through the porocytes’ ostia, going to the spongocoel, a large
cavity in the sponge’s body and exits through the osculum.

• Asconoid type canal system

Ingressing water - Ostia - Spongocoel - Osculum – outside

• Syconoid type canal system

Ingressing water - dermal ostia - incurrent canal - Prosopyles - Radial canals -
Apopyles - Spongocoel - Osculum - Outside

• Leuconoid type canal system

Ingressing water - dermal ostia - incurrent canal - Prosopyles - Flagellated chambers -
Apopyles excurrent canals - Osculum - Outside

The water current is caused by beating of flagella of the collar cells, found at the
choanoderm layer

Source: Phylum Porifera: Canal System in Sponges, Types of Canal Systems in

Sponges (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.studyandscore.com/studymaterial-
detail/phylum-porifera-canal-system-in-sponges-types-of-canal-systems-in-sponges-
functions-of-water-current

GARDUQUE, ANGELICA JOY P.

LB1B