Family AMPHORISCIDAE Dendy, 1892

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Introduction

Amphoriscidae Dendy, 1892 have massive, tubular, ovoid and spherical growth forms, usually clustered together. They have a distinct cortex supported by tangentially placed tetractines (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: figs 157, 158) in which apical rays cross each other entirely and for a least a large part of the choanosome. Tetractines (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: figs 147–156) may also be present in the cortex. The choanosomal skeleton is composed of apical rays of the cortical tetractines and triactines and the unpaired rays of subatrial spicules. Triactines and/or tetractines may also be present in the choanosomal skeleton. An atrial skeleton is always present, and the aquiferous system is syconoid or leuconoid. Nuclei of the collared cells are always apical (Borojevic 1968; Borojevic & Boury-Esnault 1987).

Two genera are included, although four others may be referred here as incertae sedis (Syculmis, Kuarraphis, Leucettaga and Baeria). These are widely distributed in the oceans and occur from intertidal habitats to depths of at least 567 m (Hartman 1982). Two of these genera have known Australian distributions.

Reviews and discussions of the family include those of Dendy (1893a, with Heteropegma, Amphoriscus, Syculmis, Leucilla, Paraleucilla; Dendy 1893b); Dendy & Row (1913, Heteropegma was Leucaltis, transferred to Leucaltidae); Hartman (1958, family referred to Sycettida); Hartman (1982); and the recent revision of Borojevic & Boury-Esnault (1987).

Diagnosis

Leucosolenida with syconoid, sylleibid or leuconoid organisation, and a distinct cortex supported by tangential tetractines whose centripetal apical actines cross the outer part or the whole of the choanosome. Tangential triactines and small tetractines may be also present in the cortex. The choanoskeleton is typically inarticulated, composed of apical actines of cortical tetractines and the unpaired actines of subatrial spicules. In species with a thick wall scattered triactines and/or tetractines may be also present, either among the spicules of the inarticulated choanoskeleton, or forming a distinct subatrial layer. An atrial skeleton is always present.

ID Keys

See Order Leucosolenida Diagnosis

Diagnosis References

Borojevic, R., Boury-Esnault, N., Manuel, M. & Vacelet, J. 2002. Order Leucosolenida Hartman, 1958. pp. 1157-1184 in Hooper, J.N.A. & Soest, R.W.M. Van (eds). Systema Porifera. A guide to the classification of sponges. New York : Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers Vol. 2. [1177]

General References

Borojevic, R. 1968. Systématique et évolution des éponges Calcaires. Dieuxième Thèse. Université de Paris. 33 pp.

Borojevic, R. & Boury-Esnault, N. 1987. Revision of the genus Leucilla Haeckel, 1872, with a re-description of the type species Leucilla amphora Haeckel, 1872. pp. 29-40 in Jones, W.C. European contributions to the taxonomy of sponges. Publications of the Sherkin Island Marine Station 1

Dendy, A. 1893. Studies on the comparative anatomy of sponges. V. Observations on the structure and classification of the Calcarea Heterocoela. Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science 2 35: 159-257 pls 10-14

Dendy, A. 1893. Synopsis of the Australian Calcarea Heterocoela, with a proposed classification of the group and descriptions of some new genera and species. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria ns 5: 69-116

Dendy, A. & Row, R.W.H. 1913. The classification and phylogeny of the calcareous sponges, with a reference list of all the described species, systematically arranged. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1913: 704-813

Hartman, W.D. 1958. A re-examination of Bidder's classification of the Calcarea. Systematic Zoology 7: 97-110

Hartman, W.D. 1982. Porifera. pp. 640-666 in Parker, S.P. (ed.). Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms. New York : McGraw-Hill Vol. 1.

Hooper, J.N.A. & Wiedenmayer, F. 1994. Porifera. pp. 1–620 in Wells, A. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Australia Vol. 12 xiii 624 pp. [Date published 21/Nov/1994]

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