''Halichondria'' is a genus of
sea sponge
Sponges, the members of the phylum Porifera (; meaning 'pore bearer'), are a basal animal clade as a sister of the diploblasts. They are multicellular organisms that have bodies full of pores and channels allowing water to circulate throug ...
s belonging to the family
Halichondriidae
Halichondriidae is a family of sea sponges belonging to the order Suberitida.
These sponges have a skeleton consisting of dense bundles of spicules occurring in a more or less random pattern.
Genera
The following genera are recognised in the fa ...
.
[A systematic revision of the central West Atlantic: Halichondrida (Demospongiae, Porifera). Part III: Description of valid species]
/ref>
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicule
Spicules are any of various small needle-like anatomical structures occurring in organisms
Spicule may also refer to:
* Spicule (sponge), small skeletal elements of sea sponges
*Spicule (nematode), reproductive structures found in male nematodes ...
s arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
This genus of sponges became important through the discovery of cell division
Cell division is the process by which a parent cell divides into two daughter cells. Cell division usually occurs as part of a larger cell cycle in which the cell grows and replicates its chromosome(s) before dividing. In eukaryotes, there ar ...
limiting properties of the extract Halichondrin B, which inhibits cell mitosis
In cell biology, mitosis () is a part of the cell cycle in which replicated chromosomes are separated into two new nuclei. Cell division by mitosis gives rise to genetically identical cells in which the total number of chromosomes is maint ...
. The drug Eribulin
Eribulin, sold under the brand name Halaven, is an anticancer medication used to treat breast cancer and liposarcoma.
The most common side effects include fatigue, nausea, hair loss (alopecia), constipation, certain nerve damage causing weaknes ...
, a related compound and an inhibitor of microtubule function, has become an important chemotherapy
Chemotherapy (often abbreviated to chemo and sometimes CTX or CTx) is a type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs (chemotherapeutic agents or alkylating agents) as part of a standardized chemotherapy regimen. Chemothe ...
treatment for certain types of cancer.[
]
Species
The following species are recognised in the genus ''Halichondria'':Halichondria attenuata
''Halichondria attenuata'' is a species of sea sponge belonging to the family Halichondriidae
Halichondriidae is a family of sea sponges belonging to the order Suberitida.
These sponges have a skeleton consisting of dense bundles of spicules o ...
'' (Topsent, 1915)
** ''Halichondria maraensis
''Halichondria maraensis'' is a species of sea sponge belonging to the family Halichondriidae
Halichondriidae is a family of sea sponges belonging to the order Suberitida.
These sponges have a skeleton consisting of dense bundles of spicules o ...
'' Kim & Sim, 2009
** ''Halichondria schmidti
''Halichondria schmidti'' is a species of sea sponge belonging to the family Halichondriidae
Halichondriidae is a family of sea sponges belonging to the order Suberitida.
These sponges have a skeleton consisting of dense bundles of spicules o ...
'' Dendy, 1895
** '' Halichondria sitiens'' (Schmidt, 1870)
* Subgenus ''Halichondria'' Fleming, 1828
** '' Halichondria adelpha'' de Laubenfels, 1954
** ''Halichondria agglomerans
''Halichondria agglomerans'' is a species of sea sponge belonging to the family Halichondriidae
Halichondriidae is a family of sea sponges belonging to the order Suberitida.
These sponges have a skeleton consisting of dense bundles of spicule ...
'' Cabioch, 1968
** '' Halichondria aldabrensis'' Lévi, 1961
** ''Halichondria almae
''Halichondria almae'' is a species of sea sponge belonging to the family Halichondriidae
Halichondriidae is a family of sea sponges belonging to the order Suberitida.
These sponges have a skeleton consisting of dense bundles of spicules occu ...
'' (Carballo, Uriz & García-Gómez, 1996)
** ''Halichondria arenacea
''Halichondria arenacea'' is a species of sea sponge belonging to the family Halichondriidae
Halichondriidae is a family of sea sponges belonging to the order Suberitida.
These sponges have a skeleton consisting of dense bundles of spicules o ...
'' Dendy, 1895
** '' Halichondria arenosa'' Hentschel, 1929
** '' Halichondria axinelloides'' Swartschewsky, 1906
** '' Halichondria bowerbanki'' Burton, 1930
** '' Halichondria brondstedi'' De Laubenfels, 1936
** '' Halichondria brunnea'' (Schmidt, 1868)
** '' Halichondria cancellosa'' (Carter, 1886)
** '' Halichondria capensis'' Samaai & Gibbons, 2005
** '' Halichondria carotenoidea'' Alvarez & Hooper, 2011
** '' Halichondria cartilaginea'' (Esper, 1794)
** '' Halichondria cebimarensis'' Carvalho & Hajdu, 2001
** '' Halichondria coerulea'' Bergquist, 1967
** '' Halichondria colossea'' Lundbeck, 1902
** ''Halichondria contorta
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicule (sponge), spicules arranged in a seemingly ...
'' (Sarà, 1961)
** ''Halichondria convolvens
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Sarà, 1960
** '' Halichondria cornuloides'' Burton, 1954
** ''Halichondria cristata
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Sarà, 1978
** '' Halichondria cylindrata'' Tanita & Hoshino, 1989
** ''Halichondria darwinensis
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Hooper, Cook, Hobbs & Kennedy, 1997
** '' Halichondria diazae'' Van Soest & Hooper, 2020
** ''Halichondria diversispiculata
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Burton, 1930
** ''Halichondria dubia
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' (Czerniavsky, 1880)
** ''Halichondria elenae
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Gastaldi, De Paula, Narvarte, Lôbo-Hajdu & Hajdu, 2018
** '' Halichondria fallax'' (Marshall, 1892)
** '' Halichondria flexuosa'' (Sarà, 1978)
** '' Halichondria foetida'' (Wilson, 1894)
** ''Halichondria foraminosa
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' (Czerniavsky, 1880)
** '' Halichondria fragilis'' Kieschnick, 1896
** ''Halichondria gageoenesis
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicule (sponge), spicules arranged in a seemingly ...
'' Kang & Sim, 2008
** ''Halichondria genitrix
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' (Schmidt, 1870)
** ''Halichondria gilvus
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Samaai & Gibbons, 2005
** ''Halichondria glabrata
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Keller, 1891
** ''Halichondria heterorrhaphis
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
T ...
'' Breitfuss, 1912
** ''Halichondria intermedia
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Brøndsted, 1924
** ''Halichondria isthmica
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' (Keller, 1883)
** ''Halichondria japonica
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' (Kadota, 1922)
** '' Halichondria knowltoni'' Bergquist, 1961
** ''Halichondria labiata
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Hentschel, 1929
** '' Halichondria lambei'' Brøndsted, 1933
** ''Halichondria lendenfeldi
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Lévi, 1961
** ''Halichondria leuconoides
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Topsent, 1890
** '' Halichondria longispicula'' (Czerniavsky, 1880)
** ''Halichondria lutea
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Alcolado, 1984
** ''Halichondria magniconulosa
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Hechtel, 1965
** ''Halichondria marianae
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Santos, Nascimento & Pinheiro, 2018
** ''Halichondria melanadocia
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Laubenfels, 1936
** ''Halichondria membranacea
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' (Sarà, 1978)
** ''Halichondria microbiana
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Alvarez & Hooper, 1911
** ''Halichondria migottea
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Carvalho & Hajdu, 2001
** ''Halichondria minuta
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Keller, 1891
** '' Halichondria modesta'' (Pulitzer-Finali, 1986)
** ''Halichondria moorei
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Bergquist, 1961
** ''Halichondria muanensis
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicule (sponge), spicules arranged in a seemingly ...
'' Kang & Sim, 2008
** ''Halichondria nigrocutis
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' (Carter, 1886)
** ''Halichondria normani
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Burton, 1930
** '' Halichondria oblonga'' (Hansen, 1885)
** ''Halichondria okada
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicule (sponge), spicules arranged in a seemingly ...
'' (Kadota, 1922)
** ''Halichondria osculum
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Lundbeck, 1902
** '' Halichondria oshoro'' Tanita, 1961
** ''Halichondria oxiparva
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
T ...
'' (Sarà, 1978)
** ''Halichondria panicea
''Halichondria panicea'', commonly known as the breadcrumb sponge, is a species of sea sponge belonging to the family Halichondriidae. This is an abundant sponge of coastal areas of the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea ranging from the ...
'' (Pallas, 1766)
** '' Halichondria papillaris'' (Pallas, 1766)
** ''Halichondria pelliculata
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Ridley & Dendy, 1886
** '' Halichondria phakellioides'' Dendy & Frederick, 1924
** ''Halichondria poa
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
T ...
'' (de Laubenfels, 1947)
** ''Halichondria pontica
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' (Czerniavsky, 1880)
** ''Halichondria prostrata
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Thiele, 1905
** ''Halichondria punctata
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
T ...
'' Bergquist, 1970
** ''Halichondria renieroides
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' (Fristedt, 1887)
** ''Halichondria semitubulosa
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' (Lamarck, 1814)
** ''Halichondria solidior
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' (Schmidt, 1870)
** ''Halichondria stylata
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Diaz, Pomponi & Van Soest, 1993
** ''Halichondria suberosa
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' (Esper, 1794)
** '' Halichondria sulfurea'' Carvalho & Hajdu, 2001
** ''Halichondria surrubicunda
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Hoshino, 1981
** ''Halichondria syringea
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Pulitzer-Finali, 1996
** ''Halichondria tenebrica
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Carvalho & Hajdu, 2001
** ''Halichondria tenuiramosa
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Dendy, 1922
** ''Halichondria tenuispiculata
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Brøndsted, 1916
** '' Halichondria turritella'' (Schmidt, 1870)
** ''Halichondria velamentosa
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' (Hansen, 1885)
* Subgenus unassigned
** ''Halichondria albescens'' sensu Johnston, 1842
** ''Halichondria flava
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' (Merejkowski, 1878)
** ''Halichondria hongdoenesis
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Kang & Sim, 2008
** '' Halichondria kelleri'' Van Soest & Hooper, 2020
** ''Halichondria lona
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
...
'' Laubenfels, 1936
** ''Halichondria magellanica
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
T ...
'' Dendy, 1924
** ''Halichondria ulleungensis
''Halichondria'' is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae.
These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.
T ...
'' Kang & Sim, 2008
References
Halichondrida
{{demosponge-stub