Minchin, 1900b
Definition: Clathrinida with an essentially tubular organization. A continuous choanoderm lines all the internal cavities. Growth is by longitudinal median division and anastomosis of tubes to form large units called cormus. There is neither a common cortex nor a well-defined inhalant and exhalant aquiferous system. (Clathrina coriacea Belize) (Clathrina close-up) (Clathrina very close-up) (Clathrina coriacea spics)
Remarks: Two genera are recognized in this family.
Source: Borojevic et al., 1990.
Genera represented in the area:
Clathrina Gray, 1867 (type species Grantia clathrus Schmidt, 1864): cormus is normally composed of anastomosed tubes lying on the substrate, without rigorous radial organization and not pedunculated; choanoderm flat or rarely raised into conuli by apical rays of the tetractines, but never forming folds; spicules regular, equiangular and equiradiate, triactines and/or tetractines to which diactines or tripods may be added.
Guancha Miklucho-Maclay, 1868 (type species G . blanca Miklucho-Maclay, 1868): cormus composed of a peduncle and a clathroid body; peduncle may be composed of true tubes with normal choanoderm or may be solid with a particular skeleton; skeleton composed of regular, equiangular and equiradiate spicules to which parasagittal spicules are added, at least in the peduncle; parasagittal spicules have their unpaired ray oriented basipetally.
Species included:
Clathrina cancellata
Clathrina cerebrum
Clathrina clathrus
Clathrina contorta
Clathrina coriacea
Clathrina rubra
Guancha blanca
Guancha lacunosa