• 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