Lophiostroma leizunia is unique among all known sponges for constructing its skeleton using fluorapatite, a phosphate mineral. This finding establishes the phylum Porifera (sponges) as the first ...

International scientists have uncovered the oldest known phosphatic stromatoporoid sponge, dating back approximately 480 million years to the Early Ordovician, in South China. Stromatoporoid ...