Family GUITARRIDAE Dendy, 1924

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Introduction

Guitarridae Dendy, 1924, contains encrusting, massive or ramose growth forms. Species lack special ectosomal spicules, but choanosomal spicules may protrude through surface. The choanosomal skeleton is reticulate, isodictyal-reticulate or plumoreticulate, and megascleres consist of a single category of subtylostyles (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: fig. 20). Microscleres consist of peculiar placochelae and modifications (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: fig. 74), sometimes also with palmate isochelae (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: fig. 66) and sigmancistras (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: fig. 78).

Species are found in all seas, deep and shallow waters, although they are not diverse nor abundant. Six nominal genera are included in this family, only four of which are currently recognised: furthermore, one of these (Hoplakithara) may be a synonym of Guitarra. Three genera are recorded for the Australian fauna.

Reviews are provided by Topsent (1928) and Hajdu et al. (1994). The family Guitarridae was erroneously attributed to Burton (1929) by Hajdu et al. 1994: 126).

Diagnosis

Mycalina with microscleres including placochelae-derivatives (placochelae, biplacochelae, dischelae and/or tetrapocillas).

ID Keys

KEY TO GENERA
(1) With placochelae ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
With placochelae derivatives, but no true placochelae --------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

(2) Erect, with sigmancistras ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Euchelipluma
Other habits; palmate isochelae, when present, spiny; no sigmancistras ------------------------------------- Guitarra

(3) With tetrapocilli ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tetrapocillon
With dischelas --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coelodischela

Diagnosis References

Hajdu, E. & Lerner, C. 2002. Family Guitarridae Dendy, 1924. pp. 651-655 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. [651]

General References

Hajdu, E., van Soest, R.W.M. & Hooper, J.N.A. 1994. Proposal of a phylogenetic subordinal classification of poecilosclerid sponges (Demospongiae, Porifera). pp. 123-139 in van Soest, R.W.M., van Kempen, T.M.G. & Braekman, J.-C. (eds). Sponges in Time and Space. Rotterdam : Balkema.

Topsent, E. 1928. Spongiaires de l'Atlantique et de la Méditerranée provenant des croisières du Prince Albert Ier de Monaco. Résultats des Campagnes Scientifiques accomplies par le Prince Albert I. Monaco 74: 1-376 11 pls

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