| Homosclerophorida | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Oscarella lobularis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Homoscleromorpha Bergquist, 1978 |
| Order: | Homosclerophorida Dendy, 1905 [1] |
| Families | |
| |
Homosclerophorida is an order of marine sponges. It is the only order in the monotypic class Homoscleromorpha. The order is composed of two families: Plakinidae and Oscarellidae.
Homoscleromorpha is phylogenetically well separated from Demospongiae. [4] Therefore, it has been recognized as the fourth class of sponges. [5] [6]
It has been suggested that Homoscleromorpha are more closely related to eumetazoans than to the other sponge groups, rendering sponges paraphyletic. [7] This view has not been supported by later work using larger datasets and new techniques for phylogenetic inference, which tend to support sponges as monophyletic, with Homoscleromorpha grouping together with Calcarea. [8] [9]
On the basis of molecular and morphological evidence, the two families Plakinidae and Oscarellidae have been reinstated. [5]
There are 117 species in this group divided into 9 genera. [6]
The spiculate genera in this group are Aspiculophora , Corticium , Placinolopha , Plakina , Plakinasterella , Plakortis and Tetralophophora .
The aspiculate species are the genera Oscarella and Pseudocorticium .
These sponges are massive or encrusting in form and have a very simple structure with very little variation in spicule form (all spicules tend to be very small). Reproduction is viviparous and the larva is an oval form known as an amphiblastula. This form is usual in calcareous sponges but is less common in other sponges.
Homoscleromorpha are exclusively marine sponges that tend to encrust on other surfaces at shallow depths. These sponges typically inhabit shady locations, under overhangs and inside caves. In the Mediterranean Sea, 82% of the species in this taxon can be found in caves, and 41% of them are found nowhere else. [10]
Tetillidae is a family of marine sponges. Tetillids are more or less spherical sponges which are found commonly in all marine habitats at all depths throughout the world. They are especially common in sedimented habitats. Over a hundred species have been described in ten genera.
Acanthotetilla is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Tetillidae. They are distinguished from others in the family by the presence of distinctive, heavily spined skeletal structures called "megacanthoxeas".
Plakinidae is a family of marine sponges. It is composed of seven genera:
Ascandra izuensis is a species of sea sponge in the family Clathrinidae. The species is named after the Izu peninsula where the holotype was collected.
Clathrina multiformis is a species of calcareous sponge from Russia.
Racekiela ryderi is a species of freshwater sponge in the family Spongillidae. It was first described by Edward Potts in 1882. It was collected on Sable Island in 1899 by John Macoun, a biologist with the Geological Survey of Canada, and given the name Heteromeyenia macouni by A.H. Mackay in 1900. It was originally assumed to be endemic to Sable Island but is now considered to be the same species as Racekiela ryderi, which is more broadly distributed.
Auletta is a genus of sponges in the family Bubaridae.
Agelas gracilis, commonly known as candy cane sponge, is a species of demosponge. It lives primarily in Australian waters. It has a symbiotic relationship with the white zoanthid making red and white polyps.
Chondrilla is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Chondrillidae.
Guancha apicalis was thought to be a species of calcareous sponge in the genus Guancha from Antarctica. It actually never existed.
Clathrina arnesenae is a species of calcareous sponge from the Atlantic Ocean. It is named after Norwegian spongiologist Emily Arnesen (1867–1928).
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.
Cladorhiza segonzaci 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.
Oscarellidae is a family of marine sponges.
Sycon yatsui is a species of calcareous sponge belonging to the family Sycettidae. The scientific name of the species was first published in 1929.
Azoricidae is a family of marine sponges belonging to the order of Tetractinellida.
Leucandra villosa is a species of calcareous sponge in the family Grantiidae. The sponge lives in the sea and its sclereid consists of calcium carbonate. The scientific name of the species was first published in 1885 by Lendenfeld.
Acanthascus is a genus of sponges in the family Rossellidae. Species include:
Verongula is a genus of sea sponges in the family Aplysinidae.
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