Family PLACOSPONGIIDAE Gray, 1867

Museums

Regional Maps

Diagnosis

Hadromerida with tylostyles as megascleres and selenasters or amphiaster-like sterrasters (amphinolasters) as primary microscleres forming polygonal cortical crusts. Cortical plates separated by contractile ectosomal pore grooves bearing ostia and oscula. Tylostyles in tracts radiating from the base toward the surface and supporting the margins of the cortical plates. Accessory microscleres include spirasters, spherasters, and spherules (Rützler & Hooper 2000).

ID Keys

KEY TO GENERA
(1) Microscleres of the cortex are ovoid or bean-shaped selenasters ------------------------------------- Placospongia
Microscleres of the cortex are dumbbell-like amphispherasters ----------------------------------------------------- Onotoa

Diagnosis References

Rützler, K. 2002. Family Placospongiidae Gray, 1867. pp. 196-200 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. [196]

General References

Bergquist, P.R. 1978. Sponges. London : Hutchinson 268 pp. 12 pls 81 figs 15 tables.

Brien, P., Lévi, C., Sarà, M., Tuzet, O. & Vacelet, J. 1973. Spongiaires. pp. 1-716 485 figs in Grassé, P.P. (ed.). Traité de Zoologie. Anatomie, Systématique, Biologie. Paris : Masson et Cie Vol. 3(1).

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.

Rützler, K. 2002. Family Placospongiidae Gray, 1867. pp. 196-200 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.

Rützler, K. & Hooper, J. 2000. Two new genera of hadromerid sponges (Demospongea). Zoosystema 22(2): 337-344

Vosmaer, G.C.J. & Vernhout, J.H. 1902. The Porifera of the Siboga-Expedition. I. The genus Placospongia. In Weber, M.W.C. (ed.). Siboga Expéditie Monographie 6A: 1-17 pls 1-5

History of changes