Lendenfeld, 1889
Definition: Encrusting, cup-shaped or branching sponges. Megascleres are styles, oxeas or both enclosed within compressed axial spongin fibres and plumose or plumoreticulate extra-axial branches, or sometimes without a definite axis. Microscleres are euasters, smooth or partially microspined (Stelligera stuposa spics).
Remarks: There are 5 valid genera. See Voultsiadou-Koukoura and van Soest (1991).
Source: Hooper's Internet Sponge Guide
Genera represented in the area:
Adreus Gray, 1867 (type species: Dictyocylindrus fascicularis Bowerbank, 1866): thin, stiff-branched growth form; strongly developed axial skeleton composed of long styles; poorly developed extra-axial skeleton composed of plumose brushes of smaller styles; asters with thin strongylote or tylote rays, which may be branched.
Paratimea Hallmann, 1916 (type species: Bubaris constellata Topsent, 1893): thickly encrusting growth form; extra-axial skeleton consists of long tylostyles erect on the substrate, surrounded by smaller centrotylote oxeas; euasters are thick-centred, short-rayed oxyspherasters.
Stelligera Gray, 1867 (type species: Raspailia stelligera Schmidt, 1862) (syn. Vibulinus Gray, 1867): branching growth form; well developed axial skeleton of long styles and oxeas; radial extra-axial skeleton consisting of long, projecting styles surrounded by brushes of small styles, analogous to the Raspailiidae condition, with an ectosomal crust of euasters (thick-centred, short rayed oxyspherasters).
Species treated here:
Adreus fascicularis
Paratimea constellata
Stelligera rigida
Stelligera stuposa