Family FARREIDAE Gray, 1872

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Introduction

Farreidae Gray, 1872 have funnel-shaped and tubular, simple or branched growth forms. The branching tubes are all of approximately equal width, each branch ending with an oscule. The lateral wall of the skeleton is a single layer of paratangential dictyonal framework (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: fig. 225), which usually lacks, or rarely has space for, the passage of canals, but consists of a secondary quadratic skeletal mesh of nodes each of which is a hexactin centre. Six internodal beams radiate from these nodes. These are usually laterally opposed and amalgamated combinations of two rays, each from adjacent hexactins. Irregularities may occur in this regularly-meshed structure due to the accretion of dictyonal hexactins in indefinite orientation, formed after the primary framework is established. Dermal and gastral spicules are pentactines (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: figs 198, 200, 204). Uncinates are usually present (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: figs 192, 210). Microscleres include oxyhexasters (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: fig. 209), tylohexaster (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: fig. 213) and discohexasters (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: fig. 210). Sceptrules are present, usually in the form of sarule, lonchiole or clavule (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: figs 184, 187–189, sometimes including monactinal triaxons, but lacking scopules. The flagellated chambers are laterally branched.

This family is widely distributed in the bathyal region of the sea from 11 to 3000 m depth (after Hartman 1982). Five genera are included, one of which is recorded for the Australian region.

The name Farreidae is attributed to Schulze, 1886 by Ijima (1927)who does not mention Gray (1872) among his references.

Reviews of the family can be found in Schulze (1887, 1899, 1904); Ijima (1927; synonymy, definition, key to genera, and synopsis of species); and Hartman (1982).

Diagnosis

Body form within the family is variable from typical thinwalled tubular branching and anastomosing stock, to cup, funnel, flat blade or solid branching forms. The primary dictyonal skeleton is never channelized, but accreted secondary layers may contain shallow, extradictyonal epirhyses and/or aporhyses. Primary framework is fundamentally one to three layers of fused, quadrangularmeshed dictyonalia with all nodes being true centra (with axial cross), while secondary layers have dictyonalia attached in indefinite orientation, resulting in false (non-centra bearing) nodes and triangular meshes. Dermalia and atrialia, where present, are pentactins, either finely spined or coarsely tuberculate on outer surfaces. All members possess uncinates and microscleres as either oxyhexasters or discohexasters or both. Occasional microscleres may include tylohexasters, staurasters, pentasters, and diasters.

ID Keys

KEY TO GENERA
(1) Sceptrules include clavules -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
Sceptrules as sarules\only, without clavules -------------------------------------------------------------------- Sarostegia

(2) Sceptrules include forms other than clavules ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
Sceptrules as clavules only ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Farrea

(3) Sceptrules as sarules and clavules ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Claviscopulia
Sceptrules as clavules and either lonchioles or aspidoscopules------------------------------------------------------------- 4

(4) Sceptrules as clavules and lonchioles ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Lonchiphora
Sceptrules as clavules and aspidoscopules ----------------------------------------------------------------- Aspidoscopulia

Diagnosis References

Reiswig, H. 2002. Family Farreidae Gray, 1872. pp. 1332-1340 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. [1332]

General References

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.

Ijima, I. 1927. The Hexactinellida of the Siboga Expedition. 1-383 26 pls in Weber, M.W.C. (ed.). Siboga-Expeditie, livr. 106, monogr. 6. Leiden : J.E. Brill.

Schulze, F.E. 1887. Report on the Hexactinellida 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 21(53): 1-514 pls 1-104 1 map

Schulze, F.E. 1899. Amerikanische Hexactinelliden nach dem Material der Albatross-Expedition bearbeitet. Jena. 126 pp. 19 pls.

Schulze, F.E. 1904. Hexactinellida. In Chun, C. (ed.) Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition auf dem Dampfer 'Valdivia' 1898–1899. Vol. 4 266 pp. (text) pls 1–52 (atlas).

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