• Asteropus Sollas, W.J. 1888. Report on the Tetractinellida collected by H.M.S. Challenger, during the years 1873–1876. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger 1873–1876, Zoology 25(63): clxvi 1-458 44 pls 1 map [205].

  Type species:

   Stellettinopsis simplex Carter, 1879 by original designation.

Distribution

States

Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Indian Ocean, Indo-Malayan region, W Pacific and, New Zealand.

IMCRA

Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5)

Distribution References

Diagnosis

Massive sponges, occasionally bearing long hollow fistulae. Main skeleton is a dense feltwork of large oxeas, which are placed tangential to the surface at the sponge periphery. Triaenes are absent. Microscleres are oxyasters and sanidasters, to which trichodragmata may be added.

ID Keys

See Family Ancorinidae Diagnosis.

Diagnosis References

Uriz, M. J. 2002. Family Ancorinidae, 1870. pp. 108-126 in Hooper, J.N.A. & van Soest, R.W.M. (eds). Systema Porifera: A guide to the classification of sponges. New York : Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers Vol. 1. [122]

History of changes

• Asteropus radiocrusta Carter, H.J. 1886. Description of sponges from the neighbourhood of Port Phillip Heads, South Australia. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 5 18: 126-149 [126].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1886.12.15.146 preserved ('originally one of 3 syntypes of Stellettinopsis tuberculata Carter, 1886)'), Port Phillip Heads, Victoria [38°07'S 144°48'E].

  Secondary source:

   Kennedy, J.A. 2000. Resolving the 'Jaspis stellifer' complex. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 45(2): 453-476 [462].
• Stellettinopsis tuberculata Carter, H.J. 1886. Description of sponges from the neighbourhood of Port Phillip Heads, South Australia. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 5 18: 126-149 [126].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) BMNH 1886.12.15.4.34 dry (NMV photos 39/24, 25) (=AM G2950 slide), 5m Port Phillip Heads, VIC; BMNH 1886.12.15.113 wet (NMV photos 38/23, 24) (=AM G2736 slide); BMNH 1886.12.15.146 wet (NMV photos 37/13, 14).

Distribution

States

Victoria

IMCRA

Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Southeast Shelf Transition (37)

Ecological Descriptors

Aquatic, coral reef, filter-feeder.

General References

Kennedy, J.A. 2000. Resolving the 'Jaspis stellifer' complex. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 45(2): 453-476 [462]

History of changes

• Stellettinopsis simplex Carter, H.J. 1879. Contributions to our knowledge of the Spongida. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 5 3: 284-304, 343-360 pls 25-29 [349].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1886.12.15.362 dry (=AM G2952 slide), Fremantle, WA [32°03'S 115°46'E].
• Asteropus haeckeli Dendy, A. 1905. Report on the sponges collected by Professor Herdman, at Ceylon, in 1902. 57-246 pls 1-16 in Herdman, W.A. (ed.). Report to the Government of Ceylon on the Pearl Oyster Fisheries of the Gulf of Manaar. London : Royal Society Vol. 3 Suppl. 18. [109].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1907.2.1.21 wet –21a (5 slides, 1/19), Gulf of Mannar, Sri Lanka [7°47'34"N 78°10'33"E].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Dendy, A. 1924. Porifera. Part 1. Non-antarctic sponges. pp. 269–392 pls 1–15 in, British Antarctic (Terra Nova) Expedition, 1910. Natural History Report, Zoology Vol. 6. [306]

Distribution

States

Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia

IMCRA

Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5)

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth subtidal–126 m.

General References

Fromont, J. 1999. Demosponges of the Houtman Abrolhos. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 44: 175-184 [180] (Listed in this article)

History of changes