''Monanchora'' is a genus of
demosponge
Demosponges (Demospongiae) are the most diverse class in the phylum Porifera. They include 76.2% of all species of sponges with nearly 8,800 species worldwide (World Porifera Database). They are sponges with a soft body that covers a hard ...
s belonging to the family
Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Description
Morphology
The species with in ''Monanchora'' vary in their morphology. The genus ''Monanchora'' is defined by belonging to the family
Crambeidae
Crambeidae is a family of marine demosponges.
Identification of members of this family of sponges is based on microscopic examination of the spicules in their skeleton. The megascleres consist of peripheral thinner subtylostyles and thicker cho ...
while lacking pseudoatrose
spicules
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 ...
. The structure of the species belonging to the genus ''Monachora'' varies from encrusting to lobate to ramose. A typical identifying characteristic of this genus is a canal system that is swollen and has a light colored lining. This canal system collapses when taken out of water. Species in this genus have simple skeletal arrangements that can develop bushes at the surface without the use of ectosomal skeletons. The spicules observed vary among and within species and can be categorized by size into two groups:
megasclere
Spicules are structural elements found in most sponges. The meshing of many spicules serves as the sponge's skeleton and thus it provides structural support and potentially defense against predators.
Sponge spicules are made of calcium carbon ...
s and
microscleres. In some species the microscleres may be reduced, absent or modified, resulting in problematic identification and assignment to the genus ''Monanchora''. The genus ''Monachora'' and the genus ''
Crambe
''Crambe'' is a genus of annual and perennial flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, native to a variety of habitats in Europe, Turkey, southwest and central Asia and eastern Africa. They carry dense racemes of tiny white or yellow flowers ...
'' are similar in morphology and chemistry. Even though the two are very similar, ''Monanchora'' lack the desma-like spicules that ''Crambe'' species have.
Chemistry
Many species of ''Monanchora'' have been researched for potential uses in the medicine. Some species produce a guanidine derived alkaloid called
Monanchorin. The genus ''Crambe'' and ''Monanchora'' have similar chemical makeups.
Distribution
Species belonging to the genus ''Monanchora'' are distributed around the world. They are found in shallow
marine
Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean.
Marine or marines may refer to:
Ocean
* Maritime (disambiguation)
* Marine art
* Marine biology
* Marine debris
* Marine habitats
* Marine life
* Marine pollution
Military
* ...
or
brackish
Brackish water, sometimes termed brack water, is water occurring in a natural environment that has more salinity than freshwater, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing seawater (salt water) and fresh water together, as in estuari ...
waters.
They have a habitat of sea mounds or knolls.
Discovery
Carter first described the genus ''Monanchora'' based on a washed up specimen of ''
Monanchora clathrata
''Monanchora'' is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Description
Morphology
The species with in ''Monanchora'' vary in th ...
''. Due to the wave action, the specimen experienced on the shore, the shape was irregular and its structure was impossible to determine. Carter described the texture of the specimen as “crumb-of-bread” and the color as
tawny
Tawny may refer to:
* Tawny (given name), a feminine given name
* Tawny (color)
* Tawny port, a fortified wine
* ''Tawny'', a 1954 record album by Jackie Gleason
* Tawny, a townland in Kilcar, County Donegal, Ireland
See also
* Tenné, a "sta ...
. The specimen has a “sub-pinlike” skeletal arrangement and a
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 ...
that was smooth and curved with a pointed shaft.
Medical Use
A study found that ''Monanchora'' and ''Crambe'' produce
pyrroloquinoline and
guanidine
Guanidine is the compound with the formula HNC(NH2)2. It is a colourless solid that dissolves in polar solvents. It is a strong base that is used in the production of plastics and explosives. It is found in urine predominantly in patients experi ...
-derived
alkaloid
Alkaloids are a class of basic
BASIC (Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) is a family of general-purpose, high-level programming languages designed for ease of use. The original version was created by John G. Kemeny and Th ...
s, which potentially contain
cytotoxix and antiviral,
HIV-1
The subtypes of HIV include two major types, HIV type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV type 2 (HIV-2). HIV-1 is related to viruses found in chimpanzees and gorillas living in western Africa, while HIV-2 viruses are related to viruses found in the sooty mangabey ...
inhibitors, enzyme inhibitors, receptor antagonists, Calcium ion channel blockers, antifungals, and antimicrobials. These compounds are taxonomic traits of sponges in the
Poecilosclerida
Poecilosclerida is an order of the demosponge class. It is the most speciose demosponge order with over 2200 species (World Porifera Database). It contains about 25 recognised families. They are characterised by having chelae microscleres, that i ...
order. These compounds are studied to investigate the potential use for cancer treatment and other therapeutic areas.
Taxonomy
The following species are recognized:
* ''
Monanchora alaskensis
''Monanchora'' is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Description
Morphology
The species with in ''Monanchora'' vary in th ...
'' (Lambe, 1895)
* ''
Monanchora arbuscula
''Monanchora arbuscula'' is a species of marine demosponge in the family Crambeidae.
Description
''Monanchora arbusula'' is an encrusting or bushy demosponge which is dark red or bright scarlet on its inside and its surface. It forms either a ...
'' (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864)
* ''
Monanchora bahamensis
''Monanchora'' is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Description
Morphology
The species with in ''Monanchora'' vary in th ...
'' Esteves, de Paula, Lerner, Lôbo-Hajdu & Hajdu, 2018
* ''
Monanchora brasiliensis'' Esteves, Lerner, Lôbo-Hajdu & Hajdu, 2012
* ''
Monanchora clathrata
''Monanchora'' is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Description
Morphology
The species with in ''Monanchora'' vary in th ...
'' Carter, 1883
* ''
Monanchora coccinea'' Esteves, de Paula, Lerner, Lôbo-Hajdu & Hajdu, 2018
* ''
Monanchora dianchora
''Monanchora'' is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Description
Morphology
The species with in ''Monanchora'' vary in th ...
'' de Laubenfels, 1935
* ''
Monanchora downesae
''Monanchora'' is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Description
Morphology
The species with in ''Monanchora'' vary in th ...
'' Goodwin & Downey, 2021
* ''
Monanchora enigmatica
''Monanchora'' is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Description
Morphology
The species with in ''Monanchora'' vary in th ...
'' (Burton & Rao, 1932)
* ''
Monanchora laevissima
''Monanchora'' is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Description
Morphology
The species with in ''Monanchora'' vary in th ...
'' (Dendy, 1922)
* ''
Monanchora laminachela
''Monanchora'' is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Description
Morphology
The species with in ''Monanchora'' vary in th ...
'' Lehnert, Stone & Heimler, 2006
* ''
Monanchora lipochela
''Monanchora'' is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Description
Morphology
The species with in ''Monanchora'' vary in th ...
'' (Dendy, 1922)
* ''
Monanchora megasigmifera
''Monanchora'' is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Description
Morphology
The species with in ''Monanchora'' vary in th ...
'' Esteves, de Paula, Lerner, Lôbo-Hajdu & Hajdu, 2018
* ''
Monanchora pulchra
''Monanchora'' is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Description
Morphology
The species with in ''Monanchora'' vary in th ...
'' (Lambe, 1895)
* ''
Monanchora quadrangulata
''Monanchora'' is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Description
Morphology
The species with in ''Monanchora'' vary in th ...
'' (Lévi, 1958)
* ''
Monanchora stocki
''Monanchora'' is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Description
Morphology
The species with in ''Monanchora'' vary in th ...
'' van Soest, 1990
* ''
Monanchora unguiculata
''Monanchora'' is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeidae, Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Description
Morphology
The species with in ''Monanchora'' ...
'' (Dendy, 1922)
* ''
Monanchora viridis
''Monanchora'' is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.
Description
Morphology
The species with in ''Monanchora'' vary in th ...
'' (Kieschnick, 1900)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Monanchora
Demospongiae