Family LEVINELLIDAE Borojevic & Boury-Esnault, 1986

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Introduction

Levinellidae was proposed for a small group of Calcinea with a very particular organisation, with the taxonomy recently summarised by Borojevic et al. (2002). Three genera have been allocated to the family: Levinella Borojevic & Boury-Esnault, Sycettaga Haeckel and Burtonulla Borojevic & Boury-Esnault. They all have a large central, somewhat vesicular tubes provided with external diverticuli. These ovoid or spherical outgrowths can be individual and irregularly dispersed over the central tube, or arranged in clusters. Each cluster is centred around a small central cavity which communicates directly with the main cavity.

Diagnosis

Clathrinida with a cormus composed of a central tube, simple or ramified, and external diverticuli isolated or grouped in clusters. The skeleton of the central and radial tubes is composed of regular (equiradiate and equiangular) spicules. The skeleton of the diverticuli is composed of regular and/or parasagittal spicules, distinct from the spicules which compose the skeleton of the central tube. The choanoderm can either line all the internal cavities of the sponge, or is restricted to the diverticuli.

ID Keys

See Order Clathrinida Diagnosis

Diagnosis References

Borojevic, R., Boury-Esnault, N., Manuel, M. & Vacelet, J. 2002. Order Clathrinida Hartman, 1958. pp. 1141-1152 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. [1145]

General References

Borojevic, R., Boury-Esnault, N., Manuel, M. & Vacelet, J. 2002. Order Clathrinida Hartman, 1958. pp. 1141-1152 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. (1145)

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