Family NEOPELTIDAE Sollas, 1888

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Introduction

This family is defined as ‘Lithistid’ Demospongiae with monocrepid desmas of complex morphology and monaxial ectosomal pseudophyllotriaenes and/or pseudodiscotriaenes, and amphiasters among microscleres (Pisera & Lévi 2002).

There are four Recent genera attributed to Neopeltidae: Callipelta Sollas, 1888; Daedalopelta Sollas, 1888; Homophymia Vacelet & Vasseur, 1971, and Neopelta Schmidt, 1880b. There are about 20 nominal species, some presently incorrectly allocated, and known from all oceans. Species are polymorphic, ranging from thickly encrusting to massive irregular, massive clavate shapes with shallow axial cavity, to subglobular with a stalk and thick lamellae consisting of several individuals. They are known both from deep and very shallow waters, including coral reefs. Neopeltidae is characterized by monaxial ectosomal spicules (pseudophyllotriaenes or pseudodiscotriaenes), monaxial complex shaped branching desmas and microscleres which are amphiasters and/or spinose microxeas. Genera are differentiated on the basis of the morphology of ectosomal pseudophyllotriaenes and pseudodiscotriaenes, and microscleres geometries.

Synonyms for the family are Neopeltidae Sollas, 1888: 344 (Topsent 1894), and Daedalopeltidae de Laubenfels, 1936: 184.

Diagnosis

Polymorphic; ectosomal spicules are monaxial pseudodiscotriaenes to pseudophyllotriaenes, and/or siliceous plates; choanosomal spicules are monocrepid desmas of complex branching shape, often resembling tetraclones, sometimes accompanied by strongyles; microscleres are amphiasters and/or spinose oxeas.

ID Keys

KEY TO RECENT GENERA
(1) Ectosomal spicules are pseudodiscotriaenes (monaxial discs), microscleres are oxeas ........................ Neopelta
Ectosomal spicules are pseudophyllotriaenes ....................................................................................................... 2
(2) Clads not incised and smooth, microscleres are one type of amphiasters ....................................... Homophymia
Ectosomal spicules are tuberculated pseudophyllotriaenes with dentate clads, microscleres are two types of
amphiasters ............................................................................................................................................. Callipelta
Ectosomal spicules are dentate pseudophyllotriaenes, microscleres are one type of amphiasters ....... Daedalopelta

Diagnosis References

Pisera, A. & Lévi, C. 2002. Family Neopeltidae Sollas, 1888. pp. 344-351 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. [344]

General References

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 [184]

Pisera, A. & Lévi, C. 2002. Family Neopeltidae Sollas, 1888. pp. 344-351 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. [344]

Topsent, E. 1894. Etude monographique des spongiaires de France. I. Tetractinellida. Archives de Zoologie Expérimentale et Générale 3 2: 259–400, pls XI–XVI [290]

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