Spiculum (Noun)
Meaning
Small pointed structure serving as a skeletal element in various marine and freshwater invertebrates e.g. sponges and corals.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- Sponges are characterized by their skeletal system, which consists of spiculum and spongin fibers.
- In corals, spiculum can take on a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and functions depending on their position in the animal.
- Calcified spiculum is typically composed of either aragonite or calcite in corals.
- Sponges from shallow marine waters usually possess larger and more numerous spiculum compared to deep-sea sponges.
- Skeletons made entirely of siliceous spiculum and lacking a carbonate component can also be found in some coral species.