WoRMS taxon details
original description
Kirkpatrick, R. (1908). On Two new Genera of Recent Pharetronid Sponges. <em>Annals and Magazine of Natural History.</em> (8) 2 (12): 503-514,pls XIII-XV. page(s): 510 [details]
original description
(of Noronha Kirkpatrick, 1909) Kirkpatrick, R. (1909). Notes on <i>Merlia normani</i>, Kirkpatrick. <em>Annals and Magazine of Natural History.</em> (8) 4: 42-48. page(s): 47-48 [details]
basis of record
Hajdu, E.; Van Soest, R.W.M. (2002). Family Merliidae Kirkpatrick, 1908. pp. 691-693. <i>In:</i> Hooper, J.N.A. & Van Soest, R.W.M. (eds) (2002). <em>Systema Porifera. A guide to the classification of sponges (2 volumes).</em> Kluwer Academic/Plenum, NY, 1708 + xvliii. ISBN 0-306-47260-0 (printed version). [details] Available for editors [request]
basis of record
Hajdu, E.; Van Soest, R.W.M. (2002 [2004]). Family Merliidae Kirkpatrick, 1908. pp. 691-693. <i>In:</i> Hooper, J.N.A. & Van Soest, R.W.M. (eds) (2002 [2004]). <em>Systema Porifera. A guide to the classification of sponges (2 volumes).</em> Kluwer Academic/Plenum, NY, 1708 + xvliii. ISBN 978-1-4615-0747-5 (eBook electronic version). [details] Available for editors [request]
From editor or global species database
Description Merlia is a genus of 'sclerosponges' which combine a calcareous basal skeleton with a complement of siliceous spicules. Variously, either the basal skeleton or the spicules may be reduced or absent in individuals from wide ranging localities. Some of these have been given specific status but this needs to be further substantiated with genetic and life history studies. [details]
Taxonomy Kirkpatrick (1912) later decided that Merlia was a junior synonym of the fossil genus Monticulipora, but this is not supported here. He also detected 'zooxanthellae' in the basal chambers of the sponge (which were later revealed to be pellets of storage cells), for which he erected the name "noronhae" without assigning them to a specific genus of zooxanthellae. [details]
From editor or global species database
Unreviewed
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