• Heteroxyidae Dendy, A. 1905. Report on the sponges collected by Professor Herdman, at Ceylon, in 1902. 57-246 pls 1-16 in Herdman, W.A. (ed.). Report to the Government of Ceylon on the Pearl Oyster Fisheries of the Gulf of Manaar. London : Royal Society Vol. 3 Suppl. 18.
• Higginsiinae 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.

Diagnosis

Encrusting, massive or ramose sponges often with hispid or conulose surfaces bearing smooth or spined microxea microscleres, often centrangulate or strongly bent centrally, sometimes acanthose and rhabdose, usually found localised on ectosome, sometimes also with raphides occurring singly or in bundles (trichodragmata), or acanthose cladotoxa and birotules in one genus; megascleres monactinal (styles or tylostyles), diactinal (oxeas, strongyles) or both; choanosomal skeleton a confused arrangement of single spicules or widely spaced reticulate bundles of multispicular fibres, with little spongin, with poorly developed or no axial compression, and relatively poorly differentiated extra-axial skeleton (disorganised-plumose).

ID Keys

KEY TO GENERA
(1)Microscleres (acantho-)microxeas ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2
Microscleres discorhabd-like microxeas ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Didiscus
Microscleres sanidaster-like acanthose microrhabds -------------------------------------------------------------- Negombo
Microscleres raphides ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
Microscleres acanthose cladotoxas and birotules ----------------------------------------------------------- Acanthoclada
Microscleres absent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heteroxya

(2)Cortex absent, without microscleres or with microscleres scattered but not confined to the surface -- Higginsia
Cortex moderate with scattered microscleres concentrated near surface ------------------------------ Parahigginsia
Cortex well-developed, with an erect palisade of microscleres perpendicular to the surface------------------------ 3

(3)Extra-axial megascleres centrangulate oxeas ---------------------------------------------------------------- Halicnemia
Extra-axial megascleres absent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Microxistyla

(4)Ectosomal megascleres acanthose oxeas ---------------------------------------------------------------- Myrmekioderma
Ectosomal megascleres raphidiform oxeas --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Higginsia
Ectosomal megascleres (acantho-) strongyles -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Julavis

Diagnosis References

Hooper, J.N.A. 2002. Family Desmoxyidae Hallmann, 1916. pp. 755-772 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. [755]

General References

Bergquist, P.R. 1978. Sponges. London : Hutchinson 268 pp. 12 pls 81 figs 15 tables.

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).

Hallmann, E.F. 1917. A revision of the genera with microscleres included, or provisionally included, in the family Axinellidae, with descriptions of some Australian species. Part 3. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 41: 634-675 4 figs pls 29/3, 5-6, 33/6, 38/5

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.

Hooper, J.N.A. 2002. Family Desmoxyidae Hallmann, 1916. pp. 755-772 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.

Hooper, J.N.A., Capon, R.J., Keenan, C.P., Parry, D.L. & Smit, N. 1992. Chemotaxonomy of marine sponges: families Microcionidae, Raspailiidae and Axinellidae, and their relationships with other families in the orders Poecilosclerida and Axinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 6(2): 261-301

Hooper, J.N.A. & Lévi, C. 1993. Axinellida from the New Caledonian lagoon (Porifera: Demospongiae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 7(6): 1395-1472

van Soest, R.W.M., Diaz, M.C. & Pomponi, S.A. 1990. Phylogenetic classification of the halichondrids (Porifera, Demospongiae). Beaufortia 40(2): 15-62

van Soest, R.W.M. & Hooper, J.N.A. 2005. Resurrection of Desmoxya (Porifera: Halichondrida), with the description of a new species from Rockall Bank bathyal coral reefs, North Atlantic. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 85: 1367-1371 [1368]

Wiedenmayer, F. 1977. Shallow-water Sponges of the Western Bahamas. Basel : Birkhäuser (Experientia Suppl. 28) 287 pp. 43 pls.

History of changes

• Myrmekioderma Ehlers, E. 1870. Die Esper'schen Spongien in der zoologischen Sammlung der K. Universität Erlangen. Erlangen : E.T. Jacob 36 pp. [28].

  Type species:

   Alcyonium granulatum Esper, 1830 by subsequent designation, see Bergquist, P.R. 1965. The sponges of Micronesia, Part I. The Palau Archipelago. Pacific Science 19: 123-204 34 figs [177].

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Indo-west Pacific, south Arabian coast, Indonesia, Mediterranean, Gulf of Mexico, Madagascar.

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Timor Province (2), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Northwest Transition (3), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Distribution References

Diagnosis

Massive or encrusting growth forms. Surface hispid, with characteristic excavating meandering, sinuous or straight canals and grooves sometimes forming polygonal tuberculate plates. Choanosomal skeleton collagenous, with compressed central portion composed of a confused halichondroid mass of larger choanosomal megascleres ranging from acanthoxeas and oxeas, strongyles or less frequently styles, forming irregular, ascending, multispicular tracts bound together with sparse collagen (spongin fibres present in some species but not all). Subectosomal skeleton composed of ascending tracts of the same spicules running radially or obliquely to the surface, with larger choanosomal megascleres protruding, and frequently cavernous towards the periphery. Ectosomal skeleton without specialised spiculation although smaller (acanth-)oxeas protrude from the subectosomal region, forming a dense ‘peel’ of closely adjacent brushes perpendicular or paratangential. Megascleres consist of two distinct categories of oxeas, strongyles, or more rarely styles, sometimes sinuous and centrally flexed, either entirely smooth or with even spination, the larger choanosomal spicules more variable in their terminations than the smaller ectosomal spicules which are typically oxeas or acanthoxeas. Microscleres raphides in trichodragmata, in one or more categories, the larger usually sinuous or curved.

ID Keys

See Family Desmoxyidae Diagnosis

Diagnosis References

Hooper, J.N.A. 2002. Family Desmoxyidae Hallmann, 1916. pp. 755-772 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. [766]

General References

Bergquist, P.R. 1965. The sponges of Micronesia, Part I. The Palau Archipelago. Pacific Science 19: 123-204 34 figs [177] (presenting alternative taxonomic arrangement)

Hooper, J.N.A. & Lévi, C. 1993. Axinellida from the New Caledonian lagoon (Porifera: Demospongiae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 7(6): 1395-1472 [1448] (presenting alternative taxonomic arrangement)

van Soest, R.W.M., Diaz, M.C. & Pomponi, S.A. 1990. Phylogenetic classification of the halichondrids (Porifera, Demospongiae). Beaufortia 40(2): 15-62 [31] (presenting alternative taxonomic arrangement)

History of changes

• Alcyonium granulatum Esper, E.J.C. 1830. Die Pflanzenthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Farben erleuchtet nebst Beschreibungen. Nürnberg : Raspe Vol. 3 230 pp. pls 27-28. [71] [comprehensive redescription of species from diverse material given by Bergquist, P.R. 1965. The sponges of Micronesia, Part I. The Palau Archipelago. Pacific Science 19: 123–204 34 figs (177)].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, (Esper's material), not extant; 'East Indies'.
• Acanthoxifer ceylonensis Dendy, A. 1905. Report on the sponges collected by Professor Herdman, at Ceylon, in 1902. 57-246 pls 1-16 in Herdman, W.A. (ed.). Report to the Government of Ceylon on the Pearl Oyster Fisheries of the Gulf of Manaar. London : Royal Society Vol. 3 Suppl. 18. [157].

  Type data:

   Holotype (egaz), ?Ceylon [49°27'50"N 104°35'45"W].
• Myrmekioderma tylota Laubenfels, M.W. de 1954. The sponges of the West-Central Pacific. Oregon State Monographs. Studies in Zoology 7: 1-306 pls 1-12 [119].

  Type data:

   Holotype USNM unknown wet, Micronesia [?].
• Neoprosypa atina Laubenfels, M.W. de 1954. The sponges of the West-Central Pacific. Oregon State Monographs. Studies in Zoology 7: 1-306 pls 1-12 [190].

  Type data:

   Holotype USNM unknown wet, Micronesia [?].
• Acanthoxifer fourmanoiri Lévi, C. 1956. Spongiaires des côtes de Madagascar. Mémoires de l'Institut Scientifique de Madagascar A 10: 1-23 [5].

  Type data:

   Holotype MNHN unknown wet (egaz), Madagascar [19°05'55"S 46°38'00"E].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Bergquist, P.R. 1965. The sponges of Micronesia, Part I. The Palau Archipelago. Pacific Science 19: 123-204 34 figs [177]
• van Soest, R.W.M., Diaz, M.C. & Pomponi, S.A. 1990. Phylogenetic classification of the halichondrids (Porifera, Demospongiae). Beaufortia 40(2): 15-62 [31]
• Hooper, J.N.A. & Lévi, C. 1993. Axinellida from the New Caledonian lagoon (Porifera: Demospongiae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 7(6): 1395-1472 [1448]

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Darwin region, Arafura Sea, Cobourg Peninsula, Wessel Ils, NW Shelf, Sahul Shelf, W Gulf of Carpentaria, Moreton Bay, Qld coast.

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Timor Province (2), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Northwest Transition (3), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth 0–60m; shallow water rock and coral platforms, pools, coral rubble, heavily sedimented.

General References

Fromont, J. 2003. Porifera (Sponges) in the Dampier Archipelago: Taxonomic affinities and biogeography. Proceedings of the Twelfth International Marine Biological Workshop. The Marine Flora and Fauna of Dampier, Western Australia. 405-417 pp. [408]

Hooper, J.N.A., List-Armitage, S.E., Kennedy, J.A., Cook, S.D. & Valentine, C.A. 1999. Sponges of the Low Isles, Great Barrier Reef: an important scientific site, or a case of mistaken identity? Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 44: 249-262 [259] (Listed in this article)

Hooper, J.N.A. & Kennedy, J.A. 2002. Small-scale patterns of sponge biodiversity (Porifera) on Sunshine Coast reefs, eastern Australia. Invertebrate Systematics 16(4): 637-653 [646] (Listed in this article)

Nevalainen, T.J., Quinn, R.J. & Hooper, J.N.A. 2004. Phospholipase A2 in Porifera. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 137(B): 413-420 [415] (Listed in this article)

History of changes