Oldest record of freshwater sponges (Porifera: Spongillina) — spiculite finds in the Permo-Carboniferous of Europe

Biodiversity in South East Asia: an overview of freshwater sponges (Porifera: Demospongiae: Spongillina)

“…The time interval needed for the formation of a spiculite of a few centimetres in thickness is estimated to have ranged from years to decades (Schindler et al, 2008). Variations in species composition and amount of siliceous microfossils (sponges spicules and diatoms-diatomites) are indicators of water quality changes and past salinity conditions (Manconi andPronzato, 2008, 2013).…”

“…Sponges have been reported to be fed upon by some freshwater turtles, ducks, fish and insects where spicules were found in stomach contents (Pronzato and Manconi, 2001;Manconi and Pronzato, 2008). Porifera are primary marine invertebrates which have colonised continental water since the Palaeozoic as indicated by the Permo-Carboniferous spiculites of freshwater sponges (Haplosclerida: Spongillina) (Schindler et al, 2008). Although records are discontinuous, Mesozoic remains date back to the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous, but most fossils refer to the Eocene, Miocene, Pliocene, and the Pleistocene (Pisera and Saez, 2003;Pisera, 2004;Schindler et al, 2008).…”

“…Porifera are primary marine invertebrates which have colonised continental water since the Palaeozoic as indicated by the Permo-Carboniferous spiculites of freshwater sponges (Haplosclerida: Spongillina) (Schindler et al, 2008). Although records are discontinuous, Mesozoic remains date back to the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous, but most fossils refer to the Eocene, Miocene, Pliocene, and the Pleistocene (Pisera and Saez, 2003;Pisera, 2004;Schindler et al, 2008). Fossil evidence, together with the ability of some recent taxa of Spongillina to live in estuaries and coastal water bodies with variable salinity (Annandale, 1915;Evans and Kitting, 2010), suggests the occurrence of the invasion of inland waters by sponges from coastal brackish waters of epicontinental and/or enclosed seas.…”

Phylum Porifera

“…) are Paleozoic spicules deposits in the Permo-Carboniferous of Europe (Cayeux, 1929;Schindler et al, 2008). indet.…”

First confirmation of spongillaflies (Neuroptera: Sisyridae) from the Cretaceous

“…The oldest known fossil freshwater sponge spicules are found from the Breitenbach Formation (Upper Carboniferous) in the Saar-Nahe basin, Germany (Schindler et al, 2008). The authors assigned these spicules to Spongillina, interpreting them as belonging to lacustrine deposits.…”