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

• Amphinolana Rützler, K. & Hooper, J. 2000. Two new genera of hadromerid sponges (Demospongea). Zoosystema 22(2): 337-344 [339].

  Type species:

   Amphinolana claudelevii Rützler & Hooper, 2000 by original designation.
• Onotoa Laubenfels, M.W. de 1955. Sponges of Onotoa. Pacific Science 9(2): 137-143 [140].

  Type species:

   Onotoa amphiastra De Laubenfels, 1955 by original designation.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IMCRA

Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Diagnosis

Crustose sponges with cortical plates separated by grooves. Tracts of megascleres (tylostyles) radiating from the base toward the surface. Stony hard cortex and basal spicule layer formed by unusual, cemented microscleres, barbell-shaped amphispherasters (or amphisterrasters). This spicule type was termed amphinolaster (Rützler & Hooper 2000) to contrast the selenaster of Placospongia, a spiraster derivative (Vosmaer & Vernhout 1902). Accessory microspined spirasters and long-rayed amphiasters (only in the type species) are microscleres found mainly in the choanosome. Two species from intertidal habitats in the Pacific Ocean.

ID Keys

See Family Placospongiidae Diagnosis.

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. [197]

History of changes

• Amphinolana claudelevii Rützler, K. & Hooper, J. 2000. Two new genera of hadromerid sponges (Demospongea). Zoosystema 22(2): 337-344 [339].

  Type data:

   Holotype USNM 51356 preserved, Heron Island, North Point, Capricorn Group, Queensland, Australia [23°26.56'S 151°58.75'E ?].
  Paratype(s) QM G313420 preserved, Heron Island, North Point, Capricorn Group, Queensland, Australia [23°26.56'S 151°58.75'E].

  Secondary source:

   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. [197].

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

IMCRA

Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Ecological Descriptors

Aquatic, coral reef, filter-feeder.

General References

Rützler, K. & Hooper, J. 2000. Two new genera of hadromerid sponges (Demospongea). Zoosystema 22(2): 337-344 [339]

History of changes

• Placospongia Gray, J.E. 1867. On Placospongia, a new generic form of Spongiadae in the British Museum. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1867: 127-129 [128].

  Type species:

   Placospongia melobesioides Gray, 1867 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Amphi-Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, S Africa, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Indio-Malayan region, W central and E Pacific Ocean.

IMCRA

Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Distribution References

Diagnosis

Encrusting or lobate and branching sponges covered by smooth cortical plates separated by contractible grooves. Size from small crusts (average 25cm tall, 2.2mm thick) to erect branches (36cm tall, 1.5 cm and more in diameter). Live color of known species reddish brown to almost black. Skeleton structure radiate, tylostyle bundles running from a basal crust or a central axis (branching specimens) of selenasters toward the cortex and supporting the margins of cortical plates. Megascleres are tylostyles of two size classes the shorter ones in the ectosome), microscleres include selenasters of the cortex and base layer (or central axis) and choanosomal and ectosomal spirasters, spherasters, and spherules; developmental stages of selenasters occur throughout the choanosome.

ID Keys

See Family Placospongiidae Diagnosis.

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. [198]

General References

Becking, L.E. 2013. Revision of the genus Placospongia (Porifera, Demospongiae, Hadromerida, Placospongiidae) in the Indo-West Pacific. ZooKeys 298: 39–76

History of changes

• Geodia carinata Bowerbank, J.S. 1859. On the anatomy and physiology of the Spongiadae. Part I. On the spicula. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 148: 279-332 pls 23-26 [308].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1895.6.7.1 dry, South seas.
  Paratype(s) BMNH 1877.5.21.1390 6 slides 2/3; BMNH 1877.5.21.1391 2 slides 2/3; BMNH 1877.5.21.1392 3 slides 2/3; RSM 1882.61.41 slide.

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Prince of Wales Channel, Torres Strait, also West Indian region, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Indo-Malayan region, S(?) and E Pacific Ocean.

IMCRA

Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth subtidal–54 m.

General References

Becking, L.E. 2013. Revision of the genus Placospongia (Porifera, Demospongiae, Hadromerida, Placospongiidae) in the Indo-West Pacific. ZooKeys 298: 39–76

History of changes

• Placospongia melobesioides Gray, J.E. 1867. On Placospongia, a new generic form of Spongiadae in the British Museum. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1867: 127-129 [127].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH (not found), Borneo [1°37'33"N 112°47'34"E].

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Thursday Is., also West Indian region, S Africa, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Torres Strait, Indo-Malayan region and W Pacific Ocean.

IMCRA

Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth subtidal–45 m.

General References

Becking, L.E. 2013. Revision of the genus Placospongia (Porifera, Demospongiae, Hadromerida, Placospongiidae) in the Indo-West Pacific. ZooKeys 298: 39–76

History of changes