Ordo Chondrosida

Lévi, 1956

Definition: Demosponges without megascleres, but with strongly collagenous peripheral parts; massively to thinly encrusting sponges of firm and resilient, liver- to cartilage-like consistency. No megascleres, but one genus (Chondrilla )retains euaster microscleres (spheraster), the other (Chondrosia) being devoid of spicules. Examples: Chondrilla nucula and Chondrosia reniformis Ates.

Remarks: Only a single family is recognized, Family Chondrillidae, with 3 valid genera (of 5 in total). Usually, this group is assigned to the order Hadromerida, but there is very little evidence for close relationships between the two.

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