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spiculemore about spicule

spicule

 

  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Spicule  \Spic"ule\,  n.  [L.  spiculum  a  little  point,  a  dart.] 
  1.  A  minute,  slender  granule,  or  point. 
 
  2.  (Bot.)  Same  as  {Spicula}. 
 
  3.  (Zo["o]l.)  Any  small  calcareous  or  siliceous  body  found  in 
  the  tissues  of  various  invertebrate  animals,  especially  in 
  sponges  and  in  most  Alcyonaria. 
 
  Note:  Spicules  vary  exceedingly  in  size  and  shape,  and  some 
  of  those  found  in  siliceous  sponges  are  very  complex  in 
  structure  and  elegant  in  form  They  are  of  great  use  in 
  classification. 
 
  Description  of  the  Illustration: 
 
  a  Acerate;  b  Tricurvate,  or  Bowshaped  c  d 
  Hamate;  e  Broomshaped  f  Scepterellate;  g 
  Spinispirulate;  h  Inequi-anchorate;  i  Sexradiate; 
  j  A  Trichite  Sheaf;  k  Six-rayed  Capitate;  l 
  Rosette  of  Esperia  m  Equi-anchorate. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  spicule 
  n  :  small  pointed  structure  serving  as  a  skeletal  element  in 
  various  marine  and  freshwater  invertebrates  e.g.  sponges 
  and  corals  [syn:  {spiculum}]




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