• Phorbas Duchassaing, F.P. de & Michelotti, G. 1864. Spongiaires de la mer Caraïbe. Natuurkundige Verhandelingen van de Bataafsche Hollandsche Maatschappye der Wetenschappen te Haarlem 2 21: 1-124 pls 1-25 [91].

  Type species:

   Phorbas amaranthus Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 by subsequent designation, see Laubenfels, M.W. de 1936. A discussion of the sponge fauna of the Dry Tortugas in particular, and the West Indies in general, with material for a revision of the families and orders of the Porifera. (Tortugas Lab. Paper No. 467). Publication of the Carnegie Institution of Washington Washington 30: 1-225 22 pls 1 map [63].
• Anchinoe Gray, J.E. 1867. Notes on the arrangement of sponges, with the description of some new genera. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1867: 492-558 pls 27-28 [535].

  Type species:

   Hymeniacidon perarmatus Bowerbank, 1866 by monotypy.
• Pronax Gray, J.E. 1867. Notes on the arrangement of sponges, with the description of some new genera. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1867: 492-558 pls 27-28 [526].

  Type species:

   Cliona lobata Hancock, 1867 by monotypy.
• Suberotelites Schmidt, E.O. 1868. Die Spongien der Küste von Algier. Mit Nachträgen zu den Spongien des Adriatischen Meeres. Leipzig : Engelmann 44 pp. 5 pls. [12].

  Type species:

   Suberotelites mercator Schmidt, 1868 by monotypy.
• Plumohalichondria Carter, H.J. 1876. Descriptions and figures of deep-sea sponges and their spicules, from the Atlantic Ocean, dredged up on board H.M.S. Porcupine, chiefly in 1869 (concluded). Annals and Magazine of Natural History 4 18: 226-240, 307-324, 388-410, 458-479 pls 1 [236].

  Type species:

   Plumohalichondria microcionides Carter, 1876 by monotypy.
• Clathrissa Lendenfeld, R. von 1888. Descriptive Catalogue of the Sponges in the Australian Museum, Sydney. London : Taylor & Francis 260 pp. 12 pls. [217].

  Type species:

   Clathrissa arbuscula Lendenfeld, 1888 by subsequent designation, see Hallmann, E.F. 1912. Report on the sponges obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour on the coasts of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania, 1909–10. Part 1. Zoological (and Biological) Results of the Fishing Experiments carried on by F.I.S. Endeavour 1909-1914 2: 117-300 69 figs pls 21-36 [146].
• Stylostichon Topsent, E. 1892. Contribution à l'étude des Spongiaires de l'Atlantique Nord. Résultats des Campagnes Scientifiques accomplies par le Prince Albert I. Monaco 2: 1-165 11 pls [111].

  Type species:

   Stylostichon dendyi Topsent, 1892 by subsequent designation, see Lundbeck, W. 1909. The Porifera of East Greenland. Meddelelser om Grønland 29: 423-464 pl. 14 [444].
• Lissopocillon Ferrer-Hernandez, F. 1916. Fauna del Mediterraneo occidental. Esponjas españolas. Trabajos Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales Zool. 27: 1-52 [32].

  Type species:

   Lissopocillon dendyi Ferrer-Hernandez, 1916 by monotypy.
• Grayax Laubenfels, M.W. de 1936. A discussion of the sponge fauna of the Dry Tortugas in particular, and the West Indies in general, with material for a revision of the families and orders of the Porifera. (Tortugas Lab. Paper No. 467). Publication of the Carnegie Institution of Washington Washington 30: 1-225 22 pls 1 map [63] [nom. nov. for Pronax Gray, 1867 see Gray, J.E. 1867. Notes on the arrangement of sponges, with the description of some new genera. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1867: 492–558 pls 27–28 (536)].
• Merriamium Laubenfels, M.W. de 1936. A discussion of the sponge fauna of the Dry Tortugas in particular, and the West Indies in general, with material for a revision of the families and orders of the Porifera. (Tortugas Lab. Paper No. 467). Publication of the Carnegie Institution of Washington Washington 30: 1-225 22 pls 1 map [83].

  Type species:

   Merriamium tortugasense de Laubenfels, 1936 by original designation.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Voultsiadou-Koukoura, E. and Soest, R.W.M. Van 1991. Phorbas posidoni n. sp. (Porifera: Poecilosclerida) from the Aegean Sea, with a discussion of the family Anchinoidae. Journal of Natural History 25: 827-836 [828]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

West Indian region, N Atlantic Ocean, Red Sea, Arctic, Mediterranean Sea, S Africa, Indo-Malayan region, New Zealand, Japan, N Pacific Ocean, SE Pacific Ocean, Antarctic and Subantarctic.

IMCRA

Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Northwest Province (4), Central Western Transition (5)

Other Regions

Australian Antarctic Territory

Distribution References

Diagnosis

Thickly encrusting, massive or ramose sponges. Pores grouped in sieve-plates (areolae); ectosomal skeleton with a crust of isochelae and diactinal spicules which form fans disposed at right angles and tangential to the surface; heavily spined acanthostyles core plumose or plumo-reticulate choanosomal tracts, or these may be replaced by smooth diactinal tornotes; echinating acanthostyles also heavily spined; microscleres are arcuate isochelae and sigmas, both of which may be absent. About 70 species.

ID Keys

See Family Hymedesmiidae Diagnosis.

Diagnosis References

van Soest, R.W.M. 2002. Family Hymedesmiidae Topsent, 1928. pp. 575-593 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. [585]

History of changes

• Anchinoe acanthochela Koltun, V.M. 1964. Sponges of the Antarctic. Part 1. Tetraxonida and Cornacuspongida. 6-116, 428-433 (systematic index), pls 1-15 in Pavlovskii, E.P., Andriyashev, A.P. & Ushakov, P.V. (eds). Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R., Zoological Institute: Explorations of the fauna of the seas II (X). Biological Reports of the Soviet Antarctic Expedition (1955–1958). Moscow : Izdatel'stvo ‘Nauka' Vol. 2. [in Russian] [82].

  Type data:

   Holotype ZIL 11407 wet, 1340 m, Mawson Coast, Aust. Antarctic Terr.

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Aust. Antarctic Terr.

Known only from type locality.

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth 1340 m.

History of changes

• Anchinoe affinis Brøndsted, H.V. 1924. Sponges from New Zealand. Part I. In Mortensen, T. (ed.) Papers from Dr. Th. Mortensen's Pacific Expedition, 1914–16. XXIII. Vidensk. Meddr. Dansk Naturh. Foren. Kbh. 77: 435–483. [467].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) ZMUC unknown wet, 14 m, off New Plymouth and 8 m, Wellington Harbour, New Zealand.

  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].

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Aust. Antarctic Terr.; also New Zealand.

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth 9–15 m.

History of changes

• Myxilla arborescens Ridley, S.O. 1884. Report on the Zoological Collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean during the voyage of H.M.S. Alert, 1881–1882. Spongiida. (Part 1, Australian sponges). London : British Museum (Natural History) 366-482, pls 39-43. [430].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) BMNH 1881.10.21.342 wet, 0–9 m, Port Jackson, NSW; BMNH 1881.10.21.343 wet, 0–9 m, Port Jackson, NSW.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Tasmania

IMCRA

Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38)

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth 0–9 m.

History of changes

• Hymedesmia areolata Thiele, J. 1905. Die Kiesel-und Hornschwämme der Sammlung Plate. Zoologische Jahrbücher 6: 407-496 pls 27-33 [452].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) ZMB unknown wet, 40 m, Calbuco, Chile.

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Aust. Antarctic Terr.; George V Coast, Commonwealth Bay, Davis Sea, also Subantarctic and SE Pacific Ocean.

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth 23–970 m.

History of changes

• Echinonema caespitosa Carter, H.J. 1885. Description of sponges from the neighbourhood of Port Phillip Heads, South Australia. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 5 16: 347-368 [352].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH 1886.12.15.453 dry (=AM G2913, NMV photo 47/9), 34 m, Port Phillip Heads, VIC.
  Paralectotype(s) BMNH 1886.12.15.97 wet (=AM G2774, NMV photos 36/11,12); BMNH 1886.12.15.468 dry (NMV photo 47/10).
• Clathrissa arbuscula Lendenfeld, R. von 1888. Descriptive Catalogue of the Sponges in the Australian Museum, Sydney. London : Taylor & Francis 260 pp. 12 pls. [217] [junior secondary homonym of Clathriodendron arbuscula Lendenfeld see Hallmann, E.F. 1912. Report on the sponges obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour on the coasts of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania, 1909–10. Part 1. Zool. Results Fish. Exp. Endeavour 2: 117–300 69 figs pls 21–36].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) AM G652 wet (NMV photos 10/14–16), Port Jackson, NSW; AM G9125 dry (NMV photo 9/13), Port Jackson, NSW; BMNH 1887.1.24.60 wet (=AM 3571 slide), Port Jackson, NSW; BMNH 1887.1.24.61 wet, Port Jackson, NSW; BMNH 1886.6.12.12.22 wet, Port Jackson, NSW; ZMB 1140 6 slides, Port Jackson, NSW.
• Stylostichon conulosum Whitelegge, T. 1907. Sponges. Part I (Addenda). Part 2. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 4: 487-515 pls 45-46 [492].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM G4338 wet (NMV photos 12/26, 27), 98 m, off Coogee, NSW.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Hooper, J.N.A. in Hooper, J.N.A. & Wiedenmayer, F. 1994. Porifera. pp. 1-620 in Wells, A. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Australia Vol. 12 xiii 624 pp. [Date published 21/Nov/1994] [50]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.

IMCRA

Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38)

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth 15–91 m.

History of changes

• Anchinoe fictitioides Dendy, A. & Frederick, L.M. 1924. On a collection of sponges from the Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology Zool. 35: 477-519 pls 25-26 [504].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH 1925.11.1.282 wet (=RN VI.4), Sandy Isle, Houtman Abrolhos (as Albrolhos Ils), WA.
  Paralectotype(s) BMNH 1925.11.1.283 wet (=RN VI.11); AM Z2560 wet fragment of type (NMV photos 19/26–29).

Distribution

States

Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

IMCRA

Central Western Transition (5)

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

General References

Fromont, J. 1999. Demosponges of the Houtman Abrolhos. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 44: 175-184 [177] (Listed in this article)

History of changes

• Clathrissa glaberrima Topsent, E. 1917. Spongiaires. 1-88 6 pls in Joubin, L. (ed.). Deuxième Expédition Antarctique Française (1908–1910) commandée par le Dr. Jean Charcot. Paris : Masson. [46].

  Type data:

   Holotype MNHN Paris unknown, 197 m, off Alexander Is. (68º35´S 72º40´W), Antarctic Peninsula.
• Pyloderma demonstrans Dendy, A. 1924. Porifera. Part 1. Non-antarctic sponges. pp. 269–392 pls 1–15 in, British Antarctic (Terra Nova) Expedition, 1910. Natural History Report, Zoology Vol. 6. [370].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) BMNH 1923.10.1.152 wet, 138 m, 12 km E of North Cape, New Zealand.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Koltun, V.M. 1964. Sponges of the Antarctic. Part 1. Tetraxonida and Cornacuspongida. 6-116, 428-433 (systematic index), pls 1-15 in Pavlovskii, E.P., Andriyashev, A.P. & Ushakov, P.V. (eds). Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R., Zoological Institute: Explorations of the fauna of the seas II (X). Biological Reports of the Soviet Antarctic Expedition (1955–1958). Moscow : Izdatel'stvo ‘Nauka' Vol. 2. [in Russian] [82]

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Aust. Antarctic Terr.; Clarie Coast, Davis Sea, Mawson Coast, off Banzare, Enderby Land, also Weddell Sea, Subantarctic and New Zealand.

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth 90–540 m.

History of changes

• Plumohalichondria gravida Dendy, A. 1896. Catalogue of non-calcareous sponges collected by J. Bracebridge Wilson, Esq., M.A., in the neighbourhood of Port Phillip Heads. Part 2. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria ns 8: 14-51 [42].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) NMV G2364 wet (=BMNH 1902.10.18.353 slide), inside Port Phillip Heads, VIC; NMV G2365 wet (=BMNH 1902.10.18.55 slide), inside Port Phillip Heads, VIC.

  Type locality references:

  Wilson, J. Bracebridge 1895. List of dredging stations at and near Port Phillip Heads. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria ns 7: 261-263 (stations 8, 9).

  Secondary source:

   Ayling, A.L., Stone, S. & Smith, B.J. 1982. Catalogue of types of sponge species from Southern Australia described by Arthur Dendy. Reports of the National Museum of Victoria 1: 97-109 [103].

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

IMCRA

Bass Strait Shelf Province (35)

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth 15–29 m.

History of changes

• Hymedesmia leptochela Hentschel, E. 1914. Monaxone Kieselschwämme und Hornschwämme der Deutschen Südpolar-Expedition 1901–1903. In Drygalski, E. von (ed.) Deutsche Südpolar-Expedition 1901–1903. 15(Zool. 7):. 35-141 pls 4-8 [115].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) ZMB 4796 wet, slide, 380 m, Wilhelm II Coast (66º2´9˜S 89º38´E), Aust. Antarctic Terr.

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Aust. Antarctic Terr.; Wilhelm II Coast, Enderby Land, and also Subantarctic.

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth 120–380 m.

History of changes

• Bipocillopsis nexus Koltun, V.M. 1964. Sponges of the Antarctic. Part 1. Tetraxonida and Cornacuspongida. 6-116, 428-433 (systematic index), pls 1-15 in Pavlovskii, E.P., Andriyashev, A.P. & Ushakov, P.V. (eds). Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R., Zoological Institute: Explorations of the fauna of the seas II (X). Biological Reports of the Soviet Antarctic Expedition (1955–1958). Moscow : Izdatel'stvo ‘Nauka' Vol. 2. [in Russian] [80].

  Type data:

   Holotype ZIL 10644 wet (egaz), 310–400 m, Wilhelm II Coast, Aust. Antarctic Terr. [68°34'01"S 90°21'50"E].
  Paratype(s) BMNH 1963.71.29.56 wet; ZIL No.11525 wet (egaz), Clarie Coast [66°52'47"S 132°54'17"E].

Generic Combinations

• Phorbas nexus (Koltun, 1964).

Distribution

Other Regions

Australian Antarctic Territory

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth 310-400 m

General References

Hooper, J.N.A. 1996. Revision of Microcionidae (Porifera: Poecilosclerida: Demospongiae), with description of Australian species. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 40: 1-626 [Date published 01/06/1996] [129] ((included in Microcionidae as Clathria (Clathria) nexus))

Hooper, J.N.A. & Wiedenmayer, F. 1994. Porifera. pp. 1–620 in Wells, A. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Australia Vol. 12 xiii 624 pp. [Date published 21/Nov/1994] [260]

History of changes

• Anchinoe novaezealandiae Dendy, A. 1924. Porifera. Part 1. Non-antarctic sponges. pp. 269–392 pls 1–15 in, British Antarctic (Terra Nova) Expedition, 1910. Natural History Report, Zoology Vol. 6. [360] [as Anchinoe novae-zealandiae].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH unknown unknown, 30–60 m, North Cape, New Zealand.

Distribution

States

South Australia, Tasmania

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Deeper waters from 28–1000 m.

History of changes

• Plumohalichondria plumosa purpurea Carter, H.J. 1886. Supplement to the descriptions of Mr. J. Bracebridge Wilson's Australian sponges. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 5 18: 369-379 [376].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1886.12.15.127 wet (NMV photos 38/0, 1), Westernport Bay, VIC.

Distribution

States

Tasmania, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Westernport Bay and Maria Is.

IMCRA

Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37)

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth 15–38 m.

History of changes

• [Echinonema anchoratum ramosum] Lendenfeld, R. von 1888. Descriptive Catalogue of the Sponges in the Australian Museum, Sydney. London : Taylor & Francis 260 pp. 12 pls. [219] [in part; composite species].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) AM unknown unknown, locality unknown.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Hooper, J.N.A. in Hooper, J.N.A. & Wiedenmayer, F. 1994. Porifera. pp. 1-620 in Wells, A. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Australia Vol. 12 xiii 624 pp. [Date published 21/Nov/1994]

Distribution

States

New South Wales

Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

IMCRA

Central Eastern Shelf Province (38)

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

History of changes

• Anchinoe tenacior Topsent, E. 1925. Etude des Spongiaires du Golfe de Naples. Archives de Zoologie Expérimentale et Générale 63(5): 623-725 pl. 8 [666] [as ?Anchinoe tenacior Topsent, 1925].

  Type data:

   Holotype MOM unknown unknown, Naples.
• Anchinoe coriaceus tenacior Topsent, E. 1936. Eponges observées dans les parages de Monaco (deuxième partie). Bulletin de l'Institut Océanographique Monaco 686: 1-70 [41] [as ?Anchinoe coriaceus tenacior Topsent, 1936].

  Type data:

   Holotype MOM unknown unknown, Monaco.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Wiedenmayer, F. 1989. Demospongiae (Porifera) from northern Bass Strait (Shelf of Southern Australia). Memoirs of Museum Victoria 50(1): 1-242 [102]

Distribution

IMCRA

Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Southeast Shelf Transition (37)

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

History of changes

• Plumohalichondria tenuispiculata Dendy, A. 1896. Catalogue of non-calcareous sponges collected by J. Bracebridge Wilson, Esq., M.A., in the neighbourhood of Port Phillip Heads. Part 2. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria ns 8: 14-51 [44].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1902.10.18.362 slide (specimen presently missing), outside Port Phillip Heads, VIC.

  Type locality references:

  Wilson, J. Bracebridge 1895. List of dredging stations at and near Port Phillip Heads. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria ns 7: 261-263 (station XB).

  Secondary source:

   Ayling, A.L., Stone, S. & Smith, B.J. 1982. Catalogue of types of sponge species from Southern Australia described by Arthur Dendy. Reports of the National Museum of Victoria 1: 97-109 [106].

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

IMCRA

Bass Strait Shelf Province (35)

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth 46–57 m.

History of changes

• Plumohalichondria uncifer Dendy, A. 1896. Catalogue of non-calcareous sponges collected by J. Bracebridge Wilson, Esq., M.A., in the neighbourhood of Port Phillip Heads. Part 2. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria ns 8: 14-51 [41].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV G2465 wet (=BMNH 1902.10.18.352 slide), outside Port Phillip Heads, VIC.

  Type locality references:

  Wilson, J. Bracebridge 1895. List of dredging stations at and near Port Phillip Heads. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria ns 7: 261-263 (station XB).

  Secondary source:

   Ayling, A.L., Stone, S. & Smith, B.J. 1982. Catalogue of types of sponge species from Southern Australia described by Arthur Dendy. Reports of the National Museum of Victoria 1: 97-109 [106].

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

IMCRA

Bass Strait Shelf Province (35)

Ecological Descriptors

Filter-feeder, marine, sessile.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth 46–57 m.

History of changes