sponge

en-noun

sponge (countable and uncountable, plural sponges)

→ Hindi: स्पंज (spañj)

→ Japanese: スポンジ (suponji)

→ Korean: 스펀지 (seupeonji)

→ Pashto: سپنج (spanj)

→ Welsh: spynj

→ Malay: span

From Middle English sponge, from Old English spunge, taken from Latin spongia, from Ancient Greek σπογγιά (spongiá), related to σπόγγος (spóngos).

(uncountable) The porous material that synthetic washing sponges are made of.

(countable, uncountable, British) A type of steamed pudding.

(countable) A form of contraception that is inserted vaginally; a contraceptive sponge.


calcareous sponge

calcareous sponge (plural calcareous sponges)

Any of many sponges, of the class Calcarea, having skeletons composed of spicules of calcium carbonate


hexactinellid

2007, S. P. Leys, et al., The Biology of Glass Spomges, David W. Sims (series editor), Advances in Marine Biology, Volume 52, page 78,
Spicules of hexactinellids are nearly indistinguishable from those of demosponges in most measured characteristics.

But Aka is also found in skeletons of hexactinellids and lithistids in Jurassic sponge mounds.

2012, Joachim Reitner, Helmut Keupp, editors, Fossil and Recent Sponges, page 5:

The skeleton of a hexactinellid is composed entirely of silica in the form of six-pointed siliceous spicules.[…]Hexactinellids are completely sessile; even the larvae seem to display no movement outside of their ability to disperse small distances with currents.

2015, Dennis Holley, General Zoology: Investigating the Animal World, page 193:

Any of the many sponges of class Hexactinellida, which have hexactine spicules; a glass sponge.


poriferan

(zoology) Any sponge of the phylum Porifera.


barrel sponge

In making use of something as simple as a difference in water speed, barrel sponges are exploiting energy from currents and tides that ultimately derive from the gravitational pull exerted by the Moon and Sun.

2012, Caspar Henderson, The Book of Barely Imagined Beings, Granta Books, published 2013, page 29:

A sponge of the genus Xestospongia, especially Xestospongia testudinaria.


latrunculin

latrunculin (countable and uncountable, plural latrunculins)

Any of a family of natural products and toxins produced by certain sponges, including the genus Latrunculia.


calcarean

(zoology) Any sponge, of the class Calcarea, that has a skeleton composed of calcium carbonate spicules.


demosponge

From Ancient Greek δῆμος (dêmos, “common people”) + sponge, after class name Demospongiae.

der

We know that at least some living calcified demosponges grow extremely slowly (0.2 mm/year Willems and Hartman 1985) and, since individuals can grow up to 1 m in diameter, are also very old (up to 5000 years).

1991, R. Wood, “Non-Spicular Biomineralization in Calcified Demosponges”, in Joachim Reitner, Helmut Keupp, editors, Fossil and Recent Sponges, Springer,, page 338:

Demosponges have siliceous spicules and a network of fibrous protein, spongir, that is similar to collagen. The demosponges are the source of natural household sponges, which are made by soaking dead sponges in shallow water until all the cellular material has decayed, leaving the spongin network behind.

2011, Naomi E. Balaban, James E. Bobick, editors, The Handy Science Answer Book, 4th edition, Visible Ink Press, page 466:

Demosponges, the class to which the barrel sponge belongs, are the oldest still existing multicellular animals for which there are unambiguous traces in the Cryogenian, or ‘snowball Earth’, period of the late Proterozic.

2012, Caspar Henderson, The Book of Barely Imagined Beings, Granta Books, published 2013, page 36:

(zoology) A sponge of the class Demospongiae, having skeletons made of spongin fibres.


halichondrid

Any member of the order Halichondrida of marine demosponges.


dendroceratid

Any member of the order Dendroceratida of marine demosponges.


astrophorid

Any member of the order Astrophorida of marine demosponges.


mycothiazole

(organic chemistry) A particular heterocyclic polyketide obtained from marine sponges


okadaic acid

en-noun

okadaic acid (countable and uncountable, plural okadaic acids)

After the marine sponge Halichondria okadai, from which it was first isolated.

A toxin that accumulates in bivalves and causes diarrhetic shellfish poisoning.


discodermolide

After Discodermia dissoluta, the Caribbean marine sponge from which it was first isolated in 1990.

A natural polyketide that is a potent inhibitor of tumour cell growth.


callystatin

(organic chemistry) Any of a class of cytotoxic polyketides, found in marine sponges of the genus Callyspongia, that have antibiotic activity.


hennoxazole

(organic chemistry) A complex organic compound, containing two oxazole rings, isolated from a marine sponge of the genus Polyfibrospongia, that shows antiviral activity


phorboxazole

(organic chemistry) Any of a group of complex organic compounds, containing oxazole rings, isolated from marine sponges of the genus Phorbas; some of these exhibit cytostatic activity.


dictyodendrin

dictyodendrin (countable and uncountable, plural dictyodendrins)

(organic chemistry) Any of a class of derivatives of pyrrolocarbazoles, extracted from marine sponges of the genus Dictyodendrilla, that inhibit aldose reductases


okadaic

From the marine sponge Halichondria okadai, + -ic.

Of or pertaining to okadaic acid or its derivatives


manzamine

(organic chemistry) Any of several polycyclic alkaloids, obtained from several species of sea sponge, that exhibit antimicrobial and antileukemic activity


theonellamide

(medicine) Any of a class of cytotoxic antifungal bicyclic peptides isolated from marine sponges of the genus Theonella.


halichondrin

suffix

translingual <i class="Latn mention" lang="mul">Halichondria</i>

(organic chemistry) Any of a family of macrocyclic polyethers initially isolated from sponges of the genus Halichondria


petrocortyne

(organic chemistry) Any of a group of cytotoxic polyacetylenes extracted from marine sponges of the family Petrosiidae


stromatoporoid

Any of several fossil sponges, of the clade †Stromatoporoidea.


tetractinellid

From translingual Tetractinellida and Tetractinellidae.

bor

(zoology) Any sponge of the order Tetractinellida or family Tetractinellidae.


calcisponge

(zoology) Any of a group of marine sponges containing calcareous spicules.


euplectella

Any of the genus Euplectella of glass sponges.


jasplakinolide

en-noun

jasplakinolide (countable and uncountable, plural jasplakinolides)

(biochemistry) A cyclodepsipeptide, isolated from the marine sponge Jaspis johnstoni, that is a potent inducer of actin polymerization and stabilization


glass-rope

glass-rope (countable and uncountable, plural glass-ropes)

A vitreous sponge of the order Hexactinellida, with a long stem, consisting of a bundle of long glassy siliceous fibres twisted together.


kauluamine

(organic chemistry) A manzamine extracted from an Indonesian sponge.


poriferologist

Besides Dr. Nigrelli the party included Dr. Martin F. Stempien, Jr., of the Aquarium staff, Dr. Gustavo Pulitzer, a marine ecologist and poriferologist of Portofino, Italy

1964, Animal kingdom, volumes 67-68, New York Zoological Society:

Poriferologists generally agree that a sponge mass bounded by pinacocytes is an individual rather than a colony.

1978, Monographs on oceanographic methodology, volume 5, Unesco:

The great variability in sponge morphology and the difficulty in precisely setting the limits of a sponge species have probably driven many potential poriferologists to frustration (and to other taxa) early in their careers.

1990, Richard C. Brusca, Gary J. Brusca, Invertebrates:

(rare) A biologist whose specialty is the study of poriferans (sponges of the phylum Porifera).


suberite

Of or pertaining to the sea sponges of the genus Suberites.


clionid

(zoology) Any member of the family Clionidae of sea angels.

(zoology, proscribed or dated) Any member of the family Clionaidae of sponges.


glass sponge

1996, Carroll Lane Fenton, Pat Vickers Rich, Mildred Adams Fenton, Thomas H. V. Rich, The Fossil Book: A Record of Prehistoric Life, Revised Edition 1989, New Corrections 1996, page 114,
Glass sponges are rare in the Ordovician and Silurian but are preserved in enormous numbers in Late Devonian formations of western New York.

Glass sponges are found in deep water (greater than 500 m) in all oceans of the world, but only inhabit shallower waters (up to 20 m) in four known locations: Antarctica, southern New Zealand, submarine caves in the Mediterranean and coastal waters of the north Pacific.

2007, S. P. Leys, G. O. Mackie, H. M. Reiswig, “The Biology of Glass Sponges”, in D. W. Sims, editor, Advances in Marine Biology, volume 52, page 85:

Within the phylum Porifera is the class Hexactinellida, commonly known as glass sponges, which, until recently, remained largely unstudied due to past interests in another class, Demospongiae.^([25]) Glass sponges are typically found in marine environments at depths ranging from 200 to 6000 m, but have also been found to live at shallower depths.

2016, Samantha M. Gromek, Ashley M. West, Marcy J. Balunas, “Chapter 12: Off the Beaten Path: Natural Products from Extreme Environments”, in Bill J. Baker, editor, Marine Biomedicine: From Beach to Bedside, page 344:

Any species of the class Hexactinellida of sponges, which have a skeleton made of four- and/or six-pointed siliceous spicules.


amphoriscid

(zoology) Any sponge in the family Amphoriscidae.


ancorinid

(zoology) Any sponge in the family Ancorinidae.


anthaspidellid

(zoology) Any of the extinct sponges in the family Anthaspidellidae.


axinellid

(zoology) Any sponge in the family Axinellidae.


chalinid

(zoology) Any sponge in the family Chalinidae.


clathrinid

(zoology)Any sponge in the family Clathrinidae.


crellid

(zoology) Any demosponge in the family Crellidae.


desmacellid

(zoology) Any sponge in the family Desmacellidae.


geodiid

(zoology) Any member of the family Geodiidae of sponges.


grantiid

(zoology) Any sponge in the family Grantiidae.


halichondriid

(zoology) Any sponge in the family Halichondriidae.


microcionid

(zoology) Any sponge in the family Microcionidae.


mycalid

(zoology) Any sponge in the family Mycalidae.


myxillid

(zoology) Any sponge in the family Myxillidae.


polymastiid

(zoology) Any sponge in the family Polymastiidae.


spongillid

(zoology) Any in the family Spongillidae of sponges.


suberitid

(zoology) Any sponge in the family Suberitidae.


sycettid

(zoology) Any sponge in the family Sycettidae.


tethyid

(zoology) Any sponge in the family Tethyidae.


tetillid

(zoology) Any sponge in the family Tetillidae.


coralline sponge

coralline sponge (plural coralline sponges)

Any of many sponges, of the class Sclerospongiae, that have a massive skeleton made of calcium carbonate


parazoan

(zoology) Any sponge (of the subkingdom Parazoa)


neopeltolide

(biochemistry) A macrolide originally isolated from sponges near the Jamaican coast, and exhibiting nanomolar cytotoxic activity against several lines of cancer cells.


ceractinomorph

(zoology) Any member of the subclass Ceractinomorpha of sponges.


porifer

(zoology) An animal of the phylum Porifera; a sponge.


sclerosponge

A sponge with a soft body that covers a hard, often massive skeleton made of calcium carbonate, either aragonite or calcite.


Neptune's cup

A large cup-shaped marine sponge (Cliona patera).


manoalide

calcium channel blocker
calcium channel blocker

A calcium channel blocker with antibiotic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, found in some sponges.


spongiology

A branch of zoology concerning sponges or Porifera.


glove sponge

(dated) A fine and soft variety of commercial sponge (Spongia officinalis).


chondrillasterol

(organic chemistry) A particular sterol found in marine sponges of the genus Chondrilla.


calyculin

Any of a class of serine/threonine protein phosphatase inhibitors originally isolated from the marine sponge Discodermia calyx.


poriferasterol

(organic chemistry) A particular sterol found in marine sponges.


clionasterol

(organic chemistry) A particular sterol found in marine sponges of the genus Cliona.


heterocoelous

From hetero- (“different”) + -coelous (“hollow”).

confix

(biology) Relating to, or characteristic of syconoid sponges of the taxonomic group Heterocoela.


psammaplin

Psammaplins, in particular psammaplin A have demonstrated cytotoxic properties.

2015 July 9, “Prevalence and Mechanisms of Dynamic Chemical Defenses in Tropical Sponges”, in PLOS ONE, →DOI:

Any of a group of cytotoxic bromotyrosine phenols (e.g. N,N"-(dithiodi-2,1-ethanediyl)bis[3-bromo-4-hydroxy-a-(hydroxyimino)-benzenepropanamide) found in some marine sponges


spongivorous

After both experiments, feeding assays with two spongivorous species were conducted.


sceptrin

Induced antimicrobial defense was found in the sponge Agelas conifera, where wounding induced an increase of the antimicrobial compounds sceptrin and oroidin.

(organic chemistry) A cyclobutane alkaloid found in some marine sponges


homoscleromorph

In this work we reveal the underlying cellular mechanisms used during morphogenesis accompanying ectosome regeneration in the homoscleromorph sponge model: Oscarella lobularis.

2015 August 14, “Oscarella lobularis (Homoscleromorpha, Porifera) Regeneration: Epithelial Morphogenesis and Metaplasia”, in PLOS ONE, →DOI:

(zoology) Any of the Homoscleromorpha, a class of marine sponges.


chaetetid

Though widely accepted as an alga there is still debate over its taxonomic affinity, with recent work arguing that it should be reclassified as a chaetetid sponge.

2015 September 15, “Geochemical Evidence of the Seasonality, Affinity and Pigmenation of Solenopora jurassica”, in PLOS ONE, →DOI:

(zoology) A kind of demosponge fossil composed of fused tubules.


lithistid

Any member of the Lithistida, a taxonomic order of sponges.


mermaid's glove

en-noun

mermaid's glove (plural mermaid's gloves)

A sea sponge of species Haliclona oculata.


homosclerophorid

Unlike in other homosclerophorids, oocytes of C. candelabrum lacked both interdigitations and microvilli at any stage (Riesgo et al. 2007a).

2010, Alexander V. Ereskovsky, The Comparative Embryology of Sponges, page 183:

Any marine sponge of the former class Homosclerophorida (now Homoscleromorpha).


heteropiid

Any calcareous sponge of the family Heteropiidae


amphidiscophoran

Any glass sponge of the subclass Amphidiscophora


chondrosid

Any demosponge of the family Chondrosiida


poecilosclerid

Clipping of translingual Poecilosclerida

clipping

translingual <i class="Latn mention" lang="mul">Poecilosclerida</i>

Any demosponge of the order Poecilosclerida


pseudoceratinid

Any sponge of the family Pseudoceratinidae


oscarellid

The plakinids have siliceous spicules, the diagnostic type being the calthrop tetractine, whereas the oscarellids lack a skeleton (Muricy and Díaz 2002).

2012, Claus Nielsen, Animal Evolution: Interrelationships of the Living Phyla, page 31:

(very rare) Any marine sponge of the family Oscarellidae.


globe sponge

A species of sponge, Tethya aurantium, orange in colour and golf-ball-shaped, found under boulders in the intertidal zone off southern Africa.


spirophorid

Any sea sponge of the order Spirophorida.


breadcrumb sponge

en-noun

breadcrumb sponge (plural breadcrumb sponges)


acarnid

(zoology) Any sponge in the family Acarnidae.