Family PHELLODERMIDAE Van Soest & Hajdu, 2002

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Introduction

This newly erected family unites sponges with the combination of styles and arcuate isochelae, differing from other Myxillina sponges that contain arcuate chelae, such as Coelosphaeridae, Hymedesmiidae and Crellidae, in lacking differentiated ectosomal and choanosomal megascleres (Van Soest & Hajdu 2002). Two out of five nominal genera are considered valid, Echinostylinos and Phelloderma, comprising about ten species, reported from cold deeper waters.

Diagnosis

Semiglobular, stalked or thinly branching sponges. Surface slightly hispid. Skeleton plumose or radiating, without special ectosomal skeleton. Spicules exclusively smooth styles, no differentiation into ectosomal and choanosomal types, although a smaller size may occur at the surface. Microscleres arcuate isochelae, which may be modified into unique forms by twisting or fusion of the alae, and sigmas, which may be absent.

ID Keys

KEY TO GENERA
(1) Chelae include ‘abyssochelae’, with alae meeting or fusing in the frontal plane ------------------------ Phelloderma
Chelae normal or asymmetrically modified, no fusion of alae ------------------------------------------------ Echinostylinos

Diagnosis References

van Soest, R.W.M. & Hajdu, E. 2002. Family Phellodermidae fam. nov. pp. 621-624 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. [621]

General References

van Soest, R.W.M. & Hajdu, E. 2002. Family Phellodermidae fam. nov. pp. 621-624 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.

History of changes