| Acarnus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Acarnus erithacus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Demospongiae |
| Order: | Poecilosclerida |
| Family: | Acarnidae |
| Genus: | Acarnus (Gray, 1867) |
| Species | |
See text. | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Acarnus is a genus of sponges belonging to the family Acarnidae. [2] The genus has almost cosmopolitan distribution (except Europe). [2]
Species are non-fistulose sponges with encrusting to massive growth forms. They have ectosomal tylotes (long, slender megascleres with knobs at both ends) with microspined ends. These form tangential or paratangential tracts. [3] The choanosomal skeleton is isodictyal (triangular mesh in which each side is one spicule long), isotropic (no differentiation into primary or secondary tracts, lines or fibers), or anisotropic (primary and secondary tracts, lines or fibers). In encrusting species, it may occasionally be plumose (skeletal structures radiate from primary fibres or spicule tracts) or hymedesmioid (monoaxon megascleres arranged singly with the heads fixed to a spongin base and the points directed outwards). [3] The skeletal tracts are covered with smooth styles, which may be spined by cladotylotes. Cladotylotes are unique to this genus. They are monoaxon megascleres with at least one hooked end. The other end may also have hooks, or it may be a pronounced smooth knob. [4] The microscleres are palmate isochelae and several forms of toxas. [3]
The following species are recognised: [1]
Leucosolenida is an order of sponges in the class Calcarea and the subclass Calcaronea. Species in the order Leucosolenida are calcareous, with a skeleton composed exclusively of free spicules without calcified non-spicular reinforcements.
Clathrina is a genus of calcareous sponge in the family Clathrinidae. Several species formerly in Clathrina were transferred to the newly erected genera Arturia, Ernstia, Borojevia, and Brattegardia in 2013. The name is derived from the Latin word "clathratus" meaning "latticed".
Polymastia is a genus of sea sponges containing about 30 species. These are small to large encrusting or dome-shaped sponges with a smooth surface having many teat-shaped projections (papillae). In areas of strong wave action, this genus does not grow the teat structures, but instead grows in a corrugated form.
Chondrocladia is a genus of carnivorous demosponges of the family Cladorhizidae. Neocladia was long considered a junior synonym, but has recently become accepted as a distinct genus.
Plakinidae is a family of marine sponges. It is composed of seven genera:
Thoosa is a genus of sea sponges in the family Thoosidae. This genus is known for boring holes in corals. It contains sixteen described species.
Chondrilla is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Chondrillidae.
Homaxinella is a genus of sea sponges in the family Suberitidae. The type species is Homaxinella balfourensis.
Cladorhiza inversa is a species of sponge in the taxonomic class Demospongiae. The body of the sponge consists of a spicule and fibers and is water absorbent.
Tedania is a genus of sea sponges in the family Tedaniidae.
Mycale is a genus of demosponge with 240 recognised species in 11 subgenera. It has been a large genus with multiple subdivisions since it was first described in 1867.
Bolosoma is a genus of pedunculated siliceous sponges belonging to the family Euplectellidae. This genus lives in deep-sea environments and provides a habitat for a plethora of other benthic species, giving Bolosoma an incredibly important ecological role in the ecosystems it is a part of.
Acarnidae is a family of sponges belonging to the order Poecilosclerida. It has a global distribution, although several genera occur primarily in colder temperate waters, and several have very restricted ranges. It is estimated that there are several hundred species.
Iophon is a genus of sponges belonging to the family Acarnidae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution.
Coelosphaeridae is a family of sponges belonging to the order Poecilosclerida. Species are found across the globe.
Phorbas is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Hymedesmiidae.
Ectyonopsis is a genus of demosponges in the family Myxillidae. They are mostly known from the waters surrounding Australia and from the Southern Ocean.
Penares is a widely distributed genus of demosponges.
Plakortis is a genus of marine sponges in the order Homosclerophorida, first described by Franz Eilhard Schulze in 1880.