''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 har ...

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 c ...

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: megascleres 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 * ...

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''. 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. The specimen has a “sub-pinlike” skeletal arrangement and a spicule that was smooth and curved with a pointed shaft.

Medical Use

A study found that ''Monanchora'' and ''Crambe'' produce pyrroloquinoline and guanidine-derived

alkaloid Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar ...

s, which potentially contain cytotoxix and antiviral, HIV-1 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'' (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 ...

'' (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) * '' Monanchora bahamensis'' Esteves, de Paula, Lerner, Lôbo-Hajdu & Hajdu, 2018 * '' Monanchora brasiliensis'' Esteves, Lerner, Lôbo-Hajdu & Hajdu, 2012 * '' Monanchora clathrata'' Carter, 1883 * '' Monanchora coccinea'' Esteves, de Paula, Lerner, Lôbo-Hajdu & Hajdu, 2018 * '' Monanchora dianchora'' de Laubenfels, 1935 * '' Monanchora downesae'' Goodwin & Downey, 2021 * '' Monanchora enigmatica'' (Burton & Rao, 1932) * '' Monanchora laevissima'' (Dendy, 1922) * '' Monanchora laminachela'' Lehnert, Stone & Heimler, 2006 * '' Monanchora lipochela'' (Dendy, 1922) * '' Monanchora megasigmifera'' Esteves, de Paula, Lerner, Lôbo-Hajdu & Hajdu, 2018 * '' Monanchora pulchra'' (Lambe, 1895) * '' Monanchora quadrangulata'' (Lévi, 1958) * '' Monanchora stocki'' van Soest, 1990 * '' Monanchora unguiculata'' (Dendy, 1922) * '' Monanchora viridis'' (Kieschnick, 1900)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Monanchora Demospongiae