Family NIPHATIDAE Van Soest, 1980

Museums

Regional Maps

Introduction

The family Niphatidae Van Soest, 1980 has a variety of growth forms including encrusting, massive, fan-shaped, vase-shaped and branching, often with chimney-like oscular processes. The ectosomal skeleton consists of a dense multispicular, three-dimensional, paratangential reticulation of diactinal spicules (oxeas or strongyles; Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: figs 5, 6). It is usually more compact than the choanosomal skeleton. Upright brushes of spicules are characteristically found at the surface in many species. The choanosomal skeleton is a reticulation of ascending and transverse-connecting spongin fibres, cored by multispicular tracts of oxeas. Interstitial spicules are common. Microscleres, if present, are sigmas (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: figs 79, 80, 83) or microxeas (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: fig. 105).

Six genera are included, for five of which there are published Australian records. Members of niphatid genera are most common in tropical shallow water seas, although some taxa are known to extend to depths of 2400 m (Hartman 1982).

Hartman (1982) reviewed the family.

Diagnosis

Encrusting, massive, fan-shaped, vase-shaped and branching growth forms, often with chimney-like oscular processes; ectosomal skeleton consists of a dense multispicular, three-dimensional, paratangential reticulation of diactinal spicules (oxeas or strongyles), usually more compact than the choanosomal skeleton; erect spicule brushes characteristically at the surface; choanosomal skeleton a reticulation of ascending and transverse-connecting spongin fibres, cored by multispicular tracts of oxeas; interstitial spicules also common; microscleres, if present, are sigmas or microxeas.

ID Keys

KEY TO GENERA
(1) Microscleres (sigmas, microxeas, rarely toxas) present ------------------------------------------------------------------ 2
No microscleres --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

(2) Surface skeleton a paratangential (three-dimensional) network of spongin enclosed paucispicular tracts, surface uneven, maybe conulose, or stiffly spiny but not hispid --------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
Surface skeleton consisting of spicules brushes, surface finely or coarsely hispid, no (para-)tangential spicule tracts,
spongin not visible ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hemigellius

(3) Surface uneven, microconulose, but not stiffly spiny, choanosomal skeleton regularly anisotropic, microscleres
vestigial ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Niphates
Surface stiffly spiny, choanosomal skeleton with reduced secondary fibres, microscleres numerous ----- Gelliodes

(4) Surface optically smooth, microconulose or bumpy, but not stiffly conulose, spiny or coarsely hispid ------------ 5
Surface stiffly conulose, spiny or coarsely hispid ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8

(5) Ectosomal skeleton a paratangential or three-dimensional network of spicule tracts ------------------------------- 6
Ectosomal skeleton lacking a network, consisting of the closely set brushed endings of the choanosomal skeleton making a crust-like ectosome ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cribrochalina

(6) Spongin absent or invisible, choanosomal skeleton with emphasis on primary tracts, many loose interstitial spicules ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pachychalina
Spongin clearly present enclosing ectosomal and choanosomal spicule tracts, choanosomal skeleton regularly anisotropic ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7

(7) Surface more or less smooth, but may be uneven or bumpy, ectosomal network tangential ------Amphimedon
Surface microconulose, ectosomal network paratangential (three-dimensional) ------------------------------ Niphates

(8) Surface spiny ‘aculeate’ (with stiff conules) -------------------------------------------------------------- Dasychalina
Surface coarsely hispid, irregular ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Haliclonissa

Diagnosis References

Desqueyroux-Faundez, R. & Valentine, C. 2002. Family Niphatidae Van Soest, 1980. pp. 874-890 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. [874]

General References

Fromont, J. 1995. Haplosclerida and Petrosida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from the New Caledonia Lagoon. Invertebrate Taxonomy 9: 149-180

Hartman, W.D. 1982. Porifera. pp. 640-666 in Parker, S.P. (ed.). Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms. New York : McGraw-Hill Vol. 1.

van Soest, R.W.M. 1980. Marine sponges from Curaçao and other Caribbean localities. Part II. Haplosclerida. Studies on the Fauna of Curaçao and other Caribbean Islands 62(191): 1-173 49 figs 18 pls

History of changes