interlocked megascleres of Lithistids with irregular warty shape, caused by hypertrophied terminal secretion of silica. There is an extensive nomenclature for different sorts of desmas, but since Lithistids are uncommon in shallow seas, we give only a few of the more common names:
-dicranoclone (in e.g. Corallistes)
-megaclone (in Pleroma)
-rhizoclone (in e.g. Scleritoderma)
-tetraclone (in e.g. Theonella)
-sphaeroclone (in Vetulina)

Alternative forms for desma : desmas, desmata.