Family HETEROPIIDAE Dendy, 1893

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Introduction

Heteropiidae Dendy, 1893 (with Djeddeidae de Laubenfels, 1936 in synonymy) includes massive, tubular, pear-shaped and branching growth forms with syconoid or leuconoid organisation. They occur as solitary sponges or in groups. They usually have a well developed cortex supported by the tangential triactine (triradiate) spicules, typically asymmetrical with unequal angles (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: figs 150, 152–156), which entirely covers the choanocyte chamber layer. The inarticulated or articulated tubular skeleton is characterised by a distinct subdermal zone formed by pseudosagittal triactines, but an articulated choanosomal spicule skeleton may be present or absent. The cortical triradiates are believed to have originated from the articulate chamber skeleton through reorientation of the spicules, so that one of the paired rays becomes the sagittal ray and the other pairs up with the remaining ray. The asymmetry of the newly paired rays and the angle of one of them is evidence of the rotation of the spicule as it has shifted from a position in the chamber skeleton to a cortical position.

The five genera in the family are widely distributed. Three are recorded in the Australian fauna. These sponges are found in shallow waters to depths of at least 1000 m (Hartman 1982).

The family is reviewed and discussed in Dendy (1893); Minchin (1900; Grantessa, Heteropia and Vosmaeropsis included); Dendy & Row (1913; Grantessa, Heteropia, Amphiute, Vosmaeropsis and Grantilla included); Hartman (1958; referred to Sycettida); Burton (1963; Heteropiidae dropped); Borojevic (1966; revised diagnosis; Amphiute removed to Grantiidae; Paraheteropia gen. n. added); and Borojevic (1968; revised diagnosis and five genera included). Other reviews are given by Brien et al. (1973) and Hartman (1982).

Diagnosis

Leucosolenida with syconoid or leuconoid organisation. The choanoskeleton is composed of a proximal layer of subatrial triactines and a distinct distal layer of pseudosagittal triactines and/or pseudosagittal tetractines, often separated by an intermediate layer that is supported by several rows of triactines and/or tetractines. The atrial skeleton is well developed.

ID Keys

See Order Leucosolenida diagnosis

Diagnosis References

Borojevic, R., Boury-Esnault, N., Manuel, M. & Vacelet, J. 2002. Order Leucosolenida Hartman, 1958. pp. 1157-1184 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. [1174]

General References

Borojevic, R. 1966. Eponges calcaires des côtes de France. I. Amphiute paulini Hanitsch; les genres Amphiute et Paraheteropia. Archives de Zoologie Expérimentale et Générale 106: 665-670 2 figs

Borojevic, R. 1968. Systématique et évolution des éponges Calcaires. Dieuxième Thèse. Université de Paris. 33 pp.

Brien, P., Lévi, C., Sarà, M., Tuzet, O. & Vacelet, J. 1973. Spongiaires. pp. 1-716 485 figs in Grassé, P.P. (ed.). Traité de Zoologie. Anatomie, Systématique, Biologie. Paris : Masson et Cie Vol. 3(1).

Burton, M. 1963. A Revision of the Classification of the Calcareous Sponges. London : British Museum pp. 1-693 figs 1-375.

Dendy, A. 1893. Studies on the comparative anatomy of sponges. V. Observations on the structure and classification of the Calcarea Heterocoela. Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science 2 35: 159-257 pls 10-14

Dendy, A. 1893. Synopsis of the Australian Calcarea Heterocoela, with a proposed classification of the group and descriptions of some new genera and species. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria ns 5: 69-116 [75]

Dendy, A. & Row, R.W.H. 1913. The classification and phylogeny of the calcareous sponges, with a reference list of all the described species, systematically arranged. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1913: 704-813

Hartman, W.D. 1958. A re-examination of Bidder's classification of the Calcarea. Systematic Zoology 7: 97-110

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.

Minchin, E.A. 1900. Porifera. pp. 1-178 in Lankester, E.R. (ed.). A Treatise on Zoology. The Porifera and Coelenterata. London : Adam and Charles Black Part 2.

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