Hooper, J. N. A. (2002 [2004]). Family Raspailiidae Hentschel, 1923. Pp. 469–510. In: Hooper, J.N.A.; Van Soest, R.W.M. (2002 [2004]). Systema Porifera. A Guide to the Classification of Sponges. (2 volumes). Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publ., New York. 1708+XLVIII. ISBN 978-1-4615-0747-5 (eBook electronic version).

404775

Hooper, J. N. A.

2002 [2004]

(2 volumes). Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publ., New York. 1708+XLVIII. ISBN 978-1-4615-0747-5 (eBook electronic version)

Publication

Available for editors   [request]

Raspailiidae Hentschel (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida), including Euryponidae Topsent, contains 60 nominal genera of which 19 are valid (one incertae sedis), with 7 subgenera, and approximately 270 named species worldwide, mainly from shallow waters and a few from abyssal depths. Species have a typically hispid surface, with genera differentiated mainly on the basis of three morphological characters: skeletal architecture ranging from axial compression to reticulate, plumo-reticulate or plumose skeletons; the presence or absence of a specialized ectosomal skeleton (apomorphic for the family, whereby small ectosomal megascleres form bouquets surrounding the longer choanosomal or subectosomal megascleres that penetrate the surface); and geometric modifications to echinating megascleres (with about 15 distinct morphologies recognised). Five new subfamilies are established, based on geometry of echinating megascleres and skeletal structure.

Systematics, Taxonomy

Porifera

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