Family DARWINELLIDAE Merejkowsky, 1879

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Diagnosis

Dendroceratida having a fibrous skeleton which is completely dendritic and, in one genus is supplemented by spongin spicules which are free of the primary skeleton. Species are most frequently encrusting but, where massive or erect, their dendritic fibrous skeleton, like that of the encrusting forms, always arises from a flat basal spongin plate. The fibres have a strongly laminated bark surrounding a central, distinct pith region.

ID Keys

KEY TO GENERA

(1)Fibre skeleton augmented by free fibrous spicules ------------------------------ Darwinella
Fibrous spicules absent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2

(2)Sponge surface supports a structured, sandy reticulation ----------- Chelonaplysilla
Sponge surface clear and smooth ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

(3)Sponge always encrusting ----------------------------------------------------------- Aplysilla
Sponge erect, stalked with prominent conules ------------------------------------- Dendrilla

Diagnosis References

Bergquist, P.R. & Cook, S.D.C. 2002. Family Darwinellidae Merejkowsky, 1879. pp. 1068-1071 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. [1068]

General References

Bergquist, P.R. 1995. Dictyoceratida, Dendroceratida and Verongida from the New Caledonia Lagoon (Porifera: Demospongiae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 38(1): 1-51

Bergquist, P.R., Karuso, P. & Cambie, R.C. 1990. Taxonomic relationships within the Dendroceratida: a biological and chemotaxonomic appraisal. pp. 72-78 in Rützler, K. (ed.). New Perspectives in Sponge Biology. Washington : Smithsonian Institution Press.

Boury-Esnault, N., de Vos, L., Donadey, C. & Vacelet, J. 1990. Ultrastructure of choanosome and sponge classification. pp. 237-244 in Rützler, K. (ed.). New Perspectives in Sponge Biology. Washington : Smithsonian Institution Press.

Laubenfels, M.W. de 1936. A discussion of the sponge fauna of the Dry Tortugas in particular, and the West Indies in general, with material for a revision of the families and orders of the Porifera. (Tortugas Lab. Paper No. 467). Publication of the Carnegie Institution of Washington Washington 30: 1-225 22 pls 1 map

Laubenfels, M.W. de 1948. The order Keratosa of the phylum Porifera. A monographic study. Occasional Papers of the Allan Hancock Foundation 3: 1-217 31 figs 30 pls

van Soest, R.W.M. 1978. Marine sponges from Curaçao and other Caribbean localities. Part. I. Keratosa. Studies on the Fauna of Curaçao and other Caribbean Islands 56(179): 1-94 30 figs 15 pls

Wilson, H.V. 1925. Silicious and horny sponges collected by the U.S. Fisheries steamer Albatross during the Philippine Expedition, 1907–10. In Contributions to the biology of the Philippine Archipelago and adjacent regions. Bulletin of the United States National Museum 100(2/4): i-vii 273-532 pls 37-52

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