Family DESMACIDIDAE Schmidt, 1870

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Introduction

Desmacididae has traditionally been used as a dustbin family, with a complicated and sometimes tortuous history. Van Soest (2002) restricted the family to only Desmacidon and Desmapsamma, which show similarities in their microscleres to Myxilla in the family Myxillidae, but were retained separately on the basis of their megascleres (suppression of choanosomal megascleres in favour of the ectosomal tornotes, which are smooth oxeotes.

Diagnosis

Encrusting, massive, lobate, fan-shaped or branching sponges. The ectosomal skeleton consists of perpendicular bundles or bouquets of megascleres and numerous microscleres. The bouquets of megascleres may also be at the end of longer subectosomal spicule bundles traversing larger subdermal lacunae. Choanosomal skeleton reticulated, either an isodictyal network making small meshes one spicule in length and width, or forming a coarser mesh in an anisotropic reticulation of thick spicule tracts. Desmacididae occur in temperate and tropical shallow-water habitats.

ID Keys

KEY TO GENERA
(1) Skeletal architecture isotropic or irregular, making meshes one spicule in diameter, no distinct spicule tracts; sand is normally incorporated in the ectosomal and choanosomal skeleton ------------------------------------- Desmapsamma
Skeletal architecture plumoreticulate, consisting of thick spicule bundles making large meshes; no sand ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Desmacidon

Diagnosis References

van Soest, R.W.M. 2002. Family Desmacididae Schmidt, 1870. pp. 572-574 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. [572]

General References

van Soest, R.W.M. 2002. Family Desmacididae Schmidt, 1870. pp. 572-574 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.

History of changes