Hajdu, Van Soest and Hooper, 1994
Definition: Poecilosclerida with only a single megasclere type and without acanthostyles; characterized by mycalostyles, i.e. stylote megascleres with faintly constricted necks; microscleres may include palmate chelae (anisochelae), sigmas, toxas, trichodragmas and unique derivatives of the sigmancistra.
Remarks: Most Mycalina have simple plumose skeleton, consisting a one type of megascleres arranged in bundles fanning out towards the surface; a few representatives have reticulate skeletons. Ectosomal specialization in the form of tangential megascleres is common. Sigmancistras occur predominantly in Hamacanthidae, but some Mycalidae have their sigmas with partly similar shape pointing towards homology. 6 families are recognized: Mycalidae, Hamacanthidae, Desmacellidae, Cladorhizidae, Guitarridae and Isodictyidae, all of which are presented in the area.
Source: Hajdu et al., 1994.
Families represented in the area:
Family Mycalidae: mycalostyles in plumose or plumoreticulate arrangement ; palmate (an-)isochelae, sigmas and toxas.
Family Hamacanthidae: mycalostyles in plumose or plumoreticulate arrangement; no chelae; sigmancistras (diancistras), occasionally accompanied by toxas.
Family Desmacellidae: styles or tylostyles in plumose or plumoreticulate arrangement; no chelae; sigmas, often in sigmodragmas, occasionally accompanied by microxeas and/or commas.
Family Cladorhizidae: deep sea sponges with stalk; possibly all without choanocyte chambers; mycalostyles in plumose or plumoreticulate arrangement; chelae diverse: palmate or arcuate, iso- or aniso, occassionally unguiferate; toxas, microstyles or forceps may be present.
Family Guitarridae: oxeas or stylotes in plumoreticulate arrangement; placochelae or derivates thereof, occasionally accompanied by spined isochelae.
Family Isodictyidae: oxeas in reticulate arrangement; palmate isochelae of peculiar shape.