Spicules.org Spicules.org

A database of sponge spicules

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

What is a spicule?

Most sponges build skeletons composed of spicules—structural elements that occur in a wide range of sizes and three-dimensional forms. Because spicule shapes are often distinctive to particular clades or even individual species, they serve as especially valuable tools for taxonomic classification.
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Spicules by type, name, and taxonomy

Explore the diversity of sponge spicules using a comprehensive database of their morphological types.
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Glossary

Sponge spicules term-by-term!
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Anything missing? Please, let me know!
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  • by Taxonomic group
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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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