Poecilosclerida
Encyclopedia
Poecilosclerida is an order
of mostly marine demosponge
s though there are a few freshwater species. It is the most speciose of the orders and contains about 25 recognised families
. They are characterised by having chelae microscleres, that is, the minute spicule
s scattered through the tissues, usually in the 10-60 microns range, have a shovel-like structure on the end.
Most of the families are viviparous
with parenchymella larvae that are uniformly ciliated
, but Raspailiidae is primarily oviparous.
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
of mostly marine demosponge
Demosponge
The Demospongiae are the largest class in the phylum Porifera. Their "skeletons" are made of spicules consisting of fibers of the protein spongin, the mineral silica, or both. Where spicules of silica are present, they have a different shape from those in the otherwise similar glass sponges...
s though there are a few freshwater species. It is the most speciose of the orders and contains about 25 recognised families
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
. They are characterised by having chelae microscleres, that is, the minute spicule
Spicule
Spicules are tiny spike-like structures of diverse origin and function found in many organisms, such as the copulatory spicules of certain nematodes or the grains on the skin of some frogs.In sponges, spicules perform a structural function....
s scattered through the tissues, usually in the 10-60 microns range, have a shovel-like structure on the end.
Most of the families are viviparous
Vivipary
Vivipary has two different meanings. In animals, it means development of the embryo inside the body of the mother, eventually leading to live birth, as opposed to laying eggs...
with parenchymella larvae that are uniformly ciliated
Cilium
A cilium is an organelle found in eukaryotic cells. Cilia are slender protuberances that project from the much larger cell body....
, but Raspailiidae is primarily oviparous.
Families
- Suborder Latrunculina
- Family Latrunculiidae
- Suborder Microcionina
- Family Acarnidae
- Family MicrocionidaeMicrocionidaeMicrocionidae is a family of marine demosponges.-Subdivisions:The family is divided as follows:* Subfamily: Microcioninae Carter 1875Genera in the subfamily include:** Clathria Schmidt, 1862** Echinochalina Thiele, 1903...
- Family Raspailiidae
- Family Rhabderemiidae
- Suborder Mycalina
- Family Cladorhizidae
- Family DesmacellidaeDesmacellidaeDesmacellidae is a family of marine demosponges.-Genera:Genera in the family include:* Biemna Gray, 1867* Desmacella Schmidt, 1870* Dragmatella Hallmann, 1917* Microtylostylifer Dendy, 1924* Neofibularia Hechtel, 1965...
- Family Esperiopsidae
- Family Guitarridae
- Family Hamacanthidae
- Family IsodictyidaeIsodictyidaeIsodictyidae is a family of marine demosponges.-Genera:Genera in the family include:* Coelocarteria Burton, 1934* Isodictya Bowerbank, 1864...
- Family Merliidae
- Family Mycalidae
- Family Podospongiidae
- Suborder Myxillina
- Family Chondropsidae
- Family Coelosphaeridae
- Family CrambeidaeCrambeidaeCrambeidae is a family of marine demosponges.Identification of members of this family of sponges is based on microscopic examination of the spicules in their skeleton. The megascleres consist of peripheral thinner subtylostyles and thicker choanosomal styles while the microscleres are exclusively...
- Family CrellidaeCrellidaeCrellidae is a family of marine demosponges in the order Poecilosclerida.-Characteristics:Growth forms are varied and include branching, club-shaped, massive and encrusting. Identification of members of this family is based on microscopic examination of the spicules in their skeleton...
- Family Dendoricellidae
- Family Desmacididae
- Family Hymedesmiidae
- Family Iotrochotidae
- Family MyxillidaeMyxillidaeMyxillidae is a family of marine demosponges.-Genera:*Damiriopsis Burton, 1928*Ectyonopsis Carter, 1883*Hymenancora Lundbeck, 1910*Melonanchora Carter, 1874*Myxilla Schmidt, 1862*Plocamiancora Topsent, 1927...
- Family Phellodermidae
- Family Tedaniidae