Subfamily Thorectinae Bergquist, 1978

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Introduction

Characteristics
This heterogeneous group of sponges is difficult to objectively define other than to include all those sponges which do not belong to Phyllospongiinae. They display a wide range of characters, many of which cross-over with the Phyllospongiinae. In other words, while Phyllosponiinae forms a monophyletic taxon Thorectinae remains a catch-all for other thorectids, and may require further subdivision at the subfamily level as evidence comes to hand (Cook & Bergquist 2002).

Scope
There are currently 18 genera in this subfamily, with 98 species.

Database Notes

Synonymy. Thorectinae Bergquist, 1978: 176

Diagnosis

Variable growth form, from low and pad-like to a range of upright forms. The fibre skeleton comprises primary, secondary and sometimes tertiary elements. Fibres are distinctly concentrically laminated. Primary fibres, where apparent, are cored with foreign material and may form fascicles. Secondary and tertiary fibres are uncored, except in the genus Hyrtios which has heavily cored primary and secondary fibres. There is low to moderate collagen deposition in most genera, but high collagen content in one, Aplysinopsis.

ID Keys

KEY TO GENERA

(1)Dermis armoured --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
Dermis unarmoured ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

(2)Dermal armour moderate to heavy and consistent over whole sponge ------------------------------------------------- 3
Dermal armour light, patchy or restricted to specific areas (may form only a crust, not a discrete armour) ---------- 4

(3)Large diameter fibres; excess mucus ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thorectandra
Fibres not of large diameter; without excess mucus ----------------------------------------------------------------- Thorecta

(4)Thin-walled lamello-digitate or foliose sponges; upper part of sponge may have sand crust; primary fibres parallel to surface; surface fibre network present ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Collospongia
Massive forms, not lamello-digitate or foliose ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5

(5)Hard and incompressible; dense secondary skeleton ---------------------------------------------------- Petrosaspongia
Firm, compressible and collagenous ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aplysinopsis

(6)Fine tertiary fibres supplement fibre skeleton ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7
Without tertiary fibres ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8

(7)Fenestrate or ridged surface; strongly fascicular primary fibres ------------------------------------- Fenestraspongia
Conulose surface; primary fibres simple (vague fascicles may be seen) ---------------------------------------- Luffariella

(8)Uncored primary and secondary fibres ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
Primary or secondary fibres with core of foreign debris -------------------------------------------------------------------- 11

(9)Axially-concentrated skeleton ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thorectaxia
Dense, branching, non-hierarchical fibre network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10

(10)Surface with irregular truncate conules ------------------------------------------------------------------ Dactylospongia
Surface smooth ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Narrabeena

(11)Secondary fibres uncored ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12
Secondary fibres heavily cored ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hyrtios

(12)Primary fibres strongly fascicular throughout sponge ------------------------------------------------------------------ 13
Primary fibres not strongly fascicular (slight subsurface fascicles possible) ---------------------------------------------- 14

(13)Very thick fibres; collagenous throughout mesohyl --------------------------------------------------- Fascaplysinopsis
Thick skeletal fibres; prominent subdermal lacunae and central exhalant canals; heavy dermal collagen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fasciospongia

(14)Upright growth form, on a basal stalk ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Taonura
Low growth forms --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15

(15)Secondary fibre skeleton well-developed ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16
Skeleton comprises primary and secondary fibres in equal proportion --------------------------------------------------- 17

16)Honeycomb pattern at surface; colour darkens upon collection --------------------------------------- Smenospongia
Without honeycomb pattern; colour does not change --------------------------------------------------------- Cacospongia

(17)Heavily collagenous mesohyl; irregular skeleton --------------------------------------------------------- Semitaspongia
Low to moderate mesohyl collagen; very regular skeleton -------------------------------------------------- Scalarispongia

Diagnosis References

Cook, S.D.C. & Bergquist, P.R. 2002. Family Thorectidae Bergquist, 1978. pp. 1028-1050 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. [1029]

General References

Cook, S.D.C. & Bergquist, P.R. 2002. Family Thorectidae Bergquist, 1978. pp. 1028-1050 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. (1029)

History of changes