Family ROSSELLIDAE Schulze, 1885

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Introduction

Rossellidae Schulze, 1885 occur in cup-like or sac-shaped growth forms, often with a stalk, attached directly to the substratum, or with basal processes, or with tufts of pentactinal basal spicules. There may also be secondary oscula in addition to the main terminal oscule. The dermal skeleton has small roughened pentactines (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: fig. 200), stauractines (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: fig. 202) or rhabdodiactine spicules (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: figs 194, 195), with similar rays and is not markedly spined. Distal rays of the dermal spicules, if developed, are similar to the remaining rays and are not markedly spined. Hypodermal spicules are pentactines or rhabdodiactines or both, which may protrude through the surface so that the rays form a veil-like covering over the surface of the sponge. Parenchymal spicules are hexactines and/or rhabdodiactines. Microscleres are oxy- and discohexasters (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: figs 209, 210), and sometimes discoctasters (Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: fig. 211).

Twenty-five genera are known in the family, only five of which have been reported so far for the Australian fauna. The family is widely distributed in the world's oceans from depths of 175 to at least 4270 m (Hartman 1982). Of the three subfamilies recognised—Lanuginellinae, Rossellinae and Acanthascinae—only the Rossellinae is represented so far in Australian waters.

The family (as Rossellidae) was subdivided into Lanuginellinae and Rossellinae by Schulze (1897), and Ijima (1927) later added Acanthascinae. If this system is retained, the following emendations become necessary because of the law of priority: Lanuginellinae becomes the nominate subfamily, and Rossellinae has to be replaced by its senior synonym Asconematinae Gray, (Gray 1872, as Askonematidae). However, in light of contemporary systematics there is some doubt as to whether the system is worthwhile retaining—the problem remains unresolved.

Reviews (as Rossellidae) are available in Schulze, F.E. (1887, 1899, 1904); and Hartman, (1982). Ijima (1927) gives a synonymy, definitions, a key to three subfamilies and a synopsis of species.

Diagnosis

The body is usually cup-like basiphytose or lophophytose; in the pedunculate forms the body can be mushroom-like. Prostalia lateralia, when present, are formed with diactines or outwardly protruding hypodermal pentactines; prostalia basalia, when present, are outwardly protruding hypodermal pentactines which are usually specialised (anchorate). Choanosomal skeleton consists of diactines, sometimes together with less frequent hexactines. Hypodermal pentactines often present, usually they protrude from the dermal surface serving as prostalia. Hypoatrial pentactines are rarely found or absent in some taxa. Dermalia are combinations of various spicules usually pentactines; stauractines and diactines, rarely hexactines. Atrialia are usually hexactines but other holactinoidal spicules can be also found there. Microscleres are various: holactinoidal, asterous and asters, they usually have discoidal, oxyoidal terminations but sometimes floricoidal, onychoidal and sigmoidal ones.

ID Keys

KEY TO SUBFAMILIES
(1) Strobiloplumicomes absent --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rossellinae
Strobiloplumicomes present -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lanuginellinae

Diagnosis References

Tabachnick, K. 2002. Family Rossellidae Schulze, 1885. pp. 1441-1505 in Hooper, J.N.A. & Soest, R.W.M. Van (eds). Systema Porifera. A guide to the classification of sponges. New York : Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers Vol. 2. [1441]

General References

Gray, J.E. 1872. Notes on the classification of the sponges. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 4 9: 442-461

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.

Ijima, I. 1927. The Hexactinellida of the Siboga Expedition. 1-383 26 pls in Weber, M.W.C. (ed.). Siboga-Expeditie, livr. 106, monogr. 6. Leiden : J.E. Brill.

Schulze, F.E. 1885. The Hexactinellida. pp. 437–451 in Tizard, T.H., Moseley, H.M., Buchanan, J.Y. & Murray, J. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. 'Challenger', 1873–1876. Narrative. Vol. 1(1) pp. 437–451. [437]

Schulze, F.E. 1887. Report on the Hexactinellida collected by H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–1876. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger 1873–1876, Zoology 21(53): 1-514 pls 1-104 1 map

Schulze, F.E. 1897. Revision des Systems der Asconematiden und Rosselliden. Sitzungsberichte der Königlichen Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1897: 520-558

Schulze, F.E. 1899. Amerikanische Hexactinelliden nach dem Material der Albatross-Expedition bearbeitet. Jena. 126 pp. 19 pls.

Schulze, F.E. 1904. Hexactinellida. In Chun, C. (ed.) Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition auf dem Dampfer 'Valdivia' 1898–1899. Vol. 4 266 pp. (text) pls 1–52 (atlas).

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