Family MONORHAPHIDIDAE Ijima, 1927

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Introduction

Monorhaphididae contains a single deep-water genus (Monorhaphis), widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific with depth range 516-1920 m. Until recently three or four species were recognised, whereas Tabachnick & Lévi (2000) showed that there was only one authentic species (M. chuni), living in muddy substrata, fixed to the bottom by a single basal spicule.

Diagnosis

Body is cylindrical round or oval in section, lophophytose, with atrial surfaces situated along one side as a linear series of rounded separate spots. Basalia consist only of a single spicule. Choanosomal skeleton consists predominantly of tauactines (triactines), elongate in the complete axis, sometimes paratetractines and diactines (the latter are usually longer and thicker than other choanosomal spicules). Dermalia and atrialia are pinular pentactines, rarely hexactines. Hypodermal skeleton consists of pentactines, sometimes of hexactines and stauractines. Microhexactines are accompanied by rare pentactines and stauractines. Amphidiscs of three types (each with many forms), macramphidiscs and mesamphidiscs may be absent.

ID Keys

Monogeneric.

Diagnosis References

Tabachnick, K. 2002. Family Monorhaphididae Ijima, 1927. pp. 1264-1266 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. [1264]

General References

Tabachnick, K. 2002. Family Monorhaphididae Ijima, 1927. pp. 1264-1266 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.

Tabachnick, K.R. & Levi, C. 2000. Porifera Hexactinellida: Amphidiscophora off New Caledonia. Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris [1936-1950] 184: 53-140

History of changes