Introduction

Lelapiidae is characterised by spicular tracts that are not found in other Leucosolenida. These tracts contain triactines with reduced paired actines (nail-spicules) or diapasons (tuning-fork spicules), which replace the typical choanoskeleton. These spicules are similar to the type of skeleton found in the 'Pharetronida', which feature was thought to be an indication of the relationship between the Lelapiidae and fossil Calcarea, but the Lelapiidae represent a rather specialised and well-delimited family and do not have a close relationship with other calcareous sponges related to the fossil groups, such as the Lithonida and Murrayonida which have diapasons. Four genera have been allocated to Lelapiidae (Grantiopsis, Kebira, Lelapia and Paralelapia), with a recent review by Borojevic et al. (2002).

Diagnosis

Leucosolenida with syconoid, sylleibid or leuconoid organisation. The choanoskeleton contains typical subatrial spicules in the proximal region, associated with spicular tracts, consisting of modified triactines arranged in parallel, which traverse either radially or obliquely the choanosome. The cortex contains tangential triactines and occasionally large longitudinal diactines and/or small perpendicular diactines.

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. [1181-1182]

General References

Woerheide, G. & Hooper, J.N.A. 2002. Calcareous sponges (Porifera: Calcarea) provide clues for the conservation biology of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Biologue (Australian Biological Resources Study) April 2002: 10-11 (1181-1182)

History of changes

• Grantiopsis 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 [73].

  Type species:

   Grantiopsis cylindrica Dendy, 1893 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia

IMCRA

Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5)

Diagnosis

Lelapiidae with syconoid or sylleibid organisation. The cortex is composed of tangential triactines, and occasionally has an external layer of small diactines perpendicular to the surface. The proximal layer of the choanoskeleton is composed of subatrial triactines and/or tetractines, whose unpaired actines are associated with modified triactines that have very reduced paired actines. These modified triactines are either isolated or form short bundles joined by an organic material, and support the external part of the choanosome.

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. [1182]

History of changes

• Grantiopsis cylindrica 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 [90].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1893.6.9.144 dry, Port Phillip Heads, VIC [38°07'S 144°48'E].
  Paratype(s) NMV G2337 wet; BMNH 1893.6.9.14a slide of RN 190; NMV G2338 (slide of RN 190); MONZ fragment of type.

  Secondary source:

   Fell, H.B. 1950. The Kirk Collection of sponges (Porifera) in the Zoology Museum, Victoria University College. Zoological Publications of Victoria University College 4: 1-12 1 pl. [7]; Burton, M. 1963. A Revision of the Classification of the Calcareous Sponges. London : British Museum pp. 1-693 figs 1-375. [619]; Ayling, A.L., Stone, S. & Smith, B.J. 1982. Catalogue of types of sponge species from Southern Australia described by Arthur Dendy. Reports of the National Museum of Victoria 1: 97-109 [102].
• Grantiopsis cylindrica fruticosa Dendy, A. & Frederick, L.M. 1924. On a collection of sponges from the Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology Zool. 35: 477-519 pls 25-26 [486].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1924.9.1.7 wet, Houtman Abrolhos (as Albrolhos Ils), WA [28°35'09"S 113°31'33"E].

  Secondary source:

   Burton, M. 1963. A Revision of the Classification of the Calcareous Sponges. London : British Museum pp. 1-693 figs 1-375. [620].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Burton, M. 1963. A Revision of the Classification of the Calcareous Sponges. London : British Museum pp. 1-693 figs 1-375. [531]

Distribution

States

Victoria, Western Australia

IMCRA

Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Northwest Province (4), Central Western Transition (5)

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

History of changes

• Grantiopsis heroni Woerheide, G. & Hooper, J.N.A. 2003. New species of Calcaronea (Porifera: Calcarea) from cryptic habitats of the southern Great Barrier Reef (Heron Island and Wistari Reef, Capricorn-Bunker Group, Australia). Journal of Natural History 37: 1-47 [39].

  Type data:

   Holotype QM G313670 preserved, Northern side of Wistari Reef, Great Barrier Reef [23°27.2'S 151°53.2'E].

Distribution

States

Queensland

IMCRA

Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Ecological Descriptors

Aquatic, benthic, filter-feeder.

History of changes

• Grantia vosmaeri 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 [88].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV G2473 wet, Watson's Bay, Port Jackson, NSW [33°51'S 151°17'E].
  Paratype(s) BMNH 1925.11.1.104a slide of above.

  Secondary source:

   Burton, M. 1963. A Revision of the Classification of the Calcareous Sponges. London : British Museum pp. 1-693 figs 1-375. [619]; Ayling, A.L., Stone, S. & Smith, B.J. 1982. Catalogue of types of sponge species from Southern Australia described by Arthur Dendy. Reports of the National Museum of Victoria 1: 97-109 [107].

Distribution

States

New South Wales

Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

History of changes