Family STYLOCORDYLIDAE Topsent, 1928

Museums

Regional Maps

Diagnosis

Deep-water sponges with thin stalk and globular-oval 'body', which is flattened at the top. Skeleton of the main body radially arranged. Megascleres include centrotylote oxeas, with strongylote, or occasionally stylote modifications; in addition many species have smaller oxeas or styles at the surface, partly arranged in a tangential layer both on the main body and lining the stalk. Reproduction is viviparous, with the added peculiarity that larvae are kept in the body until they have developed into young adults (Bergquist 1972). Distribution is cosmopolitan, with a predominance of records from cold water.

Diagnosis References

van Soest, R.W.M. 2002. Family Stylocordylidae Topsent, 1892. pp. 224-226 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. [224]

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.

van Soest, R.W.M. 2002. Family Stylocordylidae Topsent, 1892. pp. 224-226 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