These are a few of my favorite species: The magnificent and very large sponge Monorhaphis chuni

Within the glass sponges (Hexactinellids), so called because of scaffolds of silica spicules they form, resides a family of sponges, the Monorhaphididae. Family here is…

View More These are a few of my favorite species: The magnificent and very large sponge Monorhaphis chuni

Huge Silicate Sponge Spicules and the Evolution of Calcification

The deep-sea sponge Monorhaphis chuni (Hexactinellida) has the world’s largest known biosilica structure! A silicate spicule that can grow up to 3 meters long. That’s…

View More Huge Silicate Sponge Spicules and the Evolution of Calcification