Family TRETODICTYIDAE Schulze, 1886

Museums

Regional Maps

• Tretodictyidae Schulze, F.E. 1886. Ueber den Bau und des System der Hexactinelliden. Abhandlungen der Königlich-Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Berlin 1886: 1-97 [1].

Diagnosis

Hexactinosida with three-dimensional, small-meshed, euretoid dictyonal framework several dictyonalia in thickness at the growing edge; primary dictyonal frame consists at least in part of four-sided (square or rectangular) meshes; rays of dictyonalia extend only one-mesh in length to the next adjacent dictyonal centrum; longitudinally oriented dictyonal rays aligned and fused side-by-side to form longitudinal strands; schizorhysial channelization developed by growth of framework in narrow vertical (dermal to atrial) and longitudinal oriented septa bridged by small patches of dictyonalia; such growth leaves a confluent system of small gauge channels 1–2 mm wide running mainly longitudinally, but connected transversely.

ID Keys

(1) Body funnel or cup-shaped with accessory lateral oscula ............................................................ Anomochone
Body form otherwise .......................................................................................................................................... 2
(2) With distinctive ‘cyrtaulon spicules’ ..................................................................................................... Cyrtaulon
Without ‘cyrtaulon spicules’ ............................................................................................................................... 3
(3) All microscleres as onychexactins ...................................................................................................... Tretocalyx
Microscleres otherwise, never as onychexactins ............................................................................................... 4
(4) Dermalia as hexactins with swollen pinulus ............................................................................. Sclerothamnopsis
Dermalia without swollen pinulus or unknown .................................................................................................... 5
(5) With distinctive trumpet-shape scopule with digitate shaft processes ......................................... Sclerothamnus
Without distinctive floriscopules with shaft processes ........................................................................................ 6
(6) Microscleres as oxyhexasters only ................................................................................................. Tretodictyum
Microscleres mainly discohexasters; oxyhexasters may occur ........................................................................... 7
(7) Cup-shape body with swollen surface dictyonal nodes ....................................................................... Psilocalyx
Funnel to tubular body without swollen surface dictyonal nodes ........................................................... Hexactinella

Diagnosis References

Reiswig, H. 2002. Family Tretodictyidae Schulze, 1886. pp. 1341-1354 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. [1342]

History of changes