• Pararhaphoxya Burton, M. 1934. Sponges. Scientific Reports of the Great Barrier Reef Expedition 1928-1929 4: 513-621 pls 1-2 [565].

  Type species:

   Pararhaphoxya tenuiramosa Burton, 1934 by original designation.

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

New Zealand and W Pacific Ocean.

IMCRA

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

Distribution References

Diagnosis

Stalked and branching habit. Surface smooth; oscules, when visible, form stellate patterns on the branches; consistency cartilaginous-like when alive; ectosome membranous without specialised skeleton. Choanosomal skeleton differentiated in axial and extra-axial regions; axial skeleton with thick core of interwoven strongyles dividing dichotomously along the branches; extra-axial skeleton with oxeas, single or in plumose tracts orientated at right angles to the axis. Megascleres sinuous strongyles, always located at the axial skeleton and oxeas. Microscleres absent.

ID Keys

See Family Axinellidae Diagnosis

Diagnosis References

Alvarez De Glasby, B. & Hooper, J.N.A. 2002. Family Axinellidae Carter, 1875. pp. 724-747 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. [736]

History of changes

• Sigmaxinella pulchra Brøndsted, H.V. 1923. Sponges from the Auckland and Campbell Islands. In Mortensen, T. (ed.) Papers from Dr. Th. Mortensen's Pacific Expedition 1914–16. XV. Vidensk. Meddr. Dansk. Naturh. Foren. Kbh. 75: 117–167. [151].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) ZMUC (egaz - NZ), 82 m, Auckland Ils, Carnley Harbour, New Zealand [27°34'19"S 177°59'49"E].

  Secondary source:

   Bergquist, P.R. 1968. The marine fauna of New Zealand: Porifera, Demospongiae, Part 1 (Tetractinomorpha and Lithistida). Bulletin of the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research 188: 1-105 15 pls 30 figs [11].
• Pararhaphoxya tenuiramosa Burton, M. 1934. Sponges. Scientific Reports of the Great Barrier Reef Expedition 1928-1929 4: 513-621 pls 1-2 [565].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1930.8.13.145 wet (egaz), 36 m, 0.8 km W of North Direction Is., Great Barrier Reef [14°45'S 145°31'E].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Bergquist, P.R. 1970. The marine fauna of New Zealand: Porifera, Demospongiae, Part 2 (Axinellida and Halichondrida). (Mem. N.Z. Oceanogr. Inst. 51). Bulletin of the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research 197: 1-85 20 pls 3 figs [16]

Distribution

States

Queensland

IMCRA

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

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth 4–81 m.

History of changes