| Iophon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Iophon minor | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Demospongiae |
| Order: | Poecilosclerida |
| Family: | Acarnidae |
| Genus: | Iophon (Gray, 1867) |
| Species | |
See text. | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Iophon is a genus of sponges belonging to the family Acarnidae. [2] The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution. [2]
This geus contains species with non-fistulose, massive, branching or encrusting growth forms. The ectosomal (outer) skeleton is made of tylotes (long, slender megascleres with knobs at both ends) with microspined bases. [3] The choanosomal (inner) skeleton is a rounded, triangular or square-meshed network of smooth or spined choanosomal styles, arranged singly or with 2-3 per row. [3] The microscleres include bipocilla and palmate anisochelae with spurs. Bipocilla are unique to this genus. They are modified anisochela in which the wing-like alae are joined together by a short curved shaft. [4] Toxas are absent. [3]
The following species are recognised: [5]
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.
Plakinidae is a family of marine sponges. It is composed of seven genera:
Axinella is a genus of sponges in the family Axinellidae first described in 1862 by Eduard Oscar Schmidt. Species of Axinella occur in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Most of these sponges are smaller than 20 cm, and have a yellow or orange colour.
Hymeniacidon is a genus of sea sponges in the class Demospongiae. Some members of the genus are known to be mobile, achieving speeds of between 1 and 4 mm per day.
Iophon cheliferum, also known as the white reticulated sponge, is a species of sea sponge which lives on the bottom of the ocean. It is a deep water species found in the south eastern Pacific Ocean and South Africa.
Stelletta is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Ancorinidae.
Clathria is a large genus of demosponges in the family Microcionidae.
Isodictya is a genus of marine demosponge in the family Isodictyidae.
Haliclona is a genus of demosponges in the family Chalinidae.
Myxilla is a genus of demosponge belonging to the family Myxillidae. These sponges usually form encrustations on rock surfaces.
Callyspongia is a genus of demosponges in the family Callyspongiidae.
Gelliodes is a genus of sponges in the family Niphatidae.
Clathria (Clathria) is a subgenus of demosponge in the family Microcionidae.
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.
Calyx is a genus of sea sponges of the family Phloeodictyidae.
Antho is a genus of sponges belonging to the family Microcionidae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution and is known from virtually all parts of the global ocean. There are 62 species in five subgenera.
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.
Phorbas is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Hymedesmiidae.
Latrunculia is a genus of demosponges. It is well known for the diverse array of chemical compounds found in its species, including the latrunculins, which are named after this genus. Many of these are medically important, including anti-cancer compounds such as discorhabdins.