Spongillida

Spongillida
An individual of the type genus, Spongilla
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Subclass: Heteroscleromorpha
Order: Spongillida
Manconi & Pronzato, 2002[1]
Families[2]

Spongillida is an order of sponges in the subclass Heteroscleromorpha, originally described as the suborder Spongillina.[1][2] Members of this order are exclusively freshwater animals, and all freshwater sponges are currently considered part of this order,[3] though the monophyly of this group has not yet been confirmed; it is currently unknown whether all freshwater sponges belong within a single natural group.[4][5][6]

The main method of identifying and classifying sponges rely on morphology and genetics; in freshwater sponges, morphological methods analyze skeletal architecture, forms of the spicules, and traits of the gemmules. Some species, especially those endemic to ancient lakes (such as rift lakes) have lost the ability to create gemmules, necessitating other identification methods.[4][1][7] Genetic analysis is often relied upon due to lack of clarity surrounding diagnostic aspects of morphology.[8] Other than Arinosaster, all species of this order are currently placed within one of the seven families.[2]

Freshwater sponges are more speciose than other sessile freshwater invertebrates, such as bryozoans and cnidarians, despite the likely presence of undescribed taxa in some areas. They are found in all continents excluding Antarctica. Some families are thought to be endemic to certain hydrographic basins, such as Lubomirskiidae to Lake Baikal, and Metschnikowiidae to the Caspian Sea.[4] Metaniidae is thought to have a Gondwanan origin, though it is also present in Southeast Asia.[7]

Other than the ecosystem service of providing water filtration, freshwater sponges have been used by humans throughout history: people native to the Amazon cultivated these sponges using their gemmules, and utilized them as an ingredient to strengthen pottery. In 19th century Russia, sponges were used cosmetically as a blush and as a homeopathic remedy. Currently, freshwater sponges are being investigated for novel biomedical compounds,[4] with some studies showing their microbiomes may be potential reservoirs for such compounds.[9] Spicule fossils may also be useful as paleolimnological records.[10][11][12]

References

  1. ^ a b c Manconi, Renata; Pronzato, Roberto (2002). "Suborder Spongillina subord. nov.: Freshwater Sponges". Systema Poriferaa: A Guide to the Classification of Sponges. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. pp. 921–970. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-0747-5_97. ISBN 978-1-4615-0747-5. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Van Soest RW, Boury-Esnault N, Hooper JN, Rützler K, de Voogd NJ, de Glasby BA, Hajdu E, Pisera AB, Manconi R, Schoenberg C, Janussen D, Tabachnick KR, Klautau M, Picton B, Kelly M, Vacelet J (eds.). "Spongillida". World Porifera Database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  3. ^ "Deep Phylogeny and Evolution of Sponges (Phylum Porifera)". Advances in Marine Biology. 61: 1–78. December 2012. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-387787-1.00007-6. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d Manconi, R.; Pronzato, R. "Global diversity of sponges (Porifera: Spongillina) in freshwater". Hydrobiologia. 595: 27–33. doi:10.1007/s10750-007-9000-x.
  5. ^ "Phylogenetic relationships of freshwater sponges (Porifera, Spongillina) inferred from analyses of 18S rDNA, COI mtDNA, and ITS2 rDNA sequences". Zoologica Scripta. 7 July 2005. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2005.00211.x.
  6. ^ "Ribosomal ITS Sequences Allow Resolution of Freshwater Sponge Phylogeny with Alignments Guided by Secondary Structure Prediction". Journal of Molecular Evolution. 67 (6): 608–620. December 2008. doi:10.1007/s00239-008-9158-5.
  7. ^ a b "Microscleres and gemmoscleres as phylogenetic signals in Spongillida: phylogeny and biogeography of the genus Metania Gray, 1867 (Porifera, Metaniidae)". CSIRO Publishing Invertebrate Systematics. 29 (4): 369–385. August 2015. doi:10.1071/IS14060.
  8. ^ Evans, Karen (August 2019). "Freshwater sponge (Porifera: Spongillidae) distribution across a landscape: Environmental tolerances, habitats, and morphological variation". Invertebrate Biology. 138 (3). doi:10.1111/ivb.12258.
  9. ^ "Freshwater Sponges as a Neglected Reservoir of Bacterial Biodiversity". Microorganisms. 12 (1). 22 December 2023. doi:10.3390/microorganisms12010025.
  10. ^ racking Environmental Change Using Lake Sediments. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers. 2001.
  11. ^ "12 - A new preparation method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of fossil sponge spicules by light microscopy". Lake Baikal: 136–145. 2000. doi:10.1016/B978-044450434-0/50013-5.
  12. ^ "THE SPONGE FAUNA OF LAKE BAIKAL IN THE LATE PLIOCENE (according to studies of core samples from deep borehole BDP-96-1)". Russian Geology & Geophysics. 42 (1): 117–125. 1 January 2001. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  • Data related to Spongillida at Wikispecies
  • "Freshwater Sponges". National Park Services. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  • "Freshwater Sponges (Family: Spongillidae)". Australian Aquatic Biological. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
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