Schmidt, 1870
Definition: Massive, pedunculate and bowl-shaped sponges, generally without surface papillae. Skeleton is radiate at the surface but usually the choanosome is more disorganised, occasionally with loose axial organisation. Megascleres are typically tylostyles, rarely styles or diactinal forms; microscleres usually absent, but may include spined centrotylote rods (Suberites carnosus) (Suberites carnosus spics) (palisade) .
Remarks: Eight genera are presently recognised. Species live from the intertidal zone to depths of at least 3750 m, throughout the world's oceans (Hartman, 1982).
Source: Hooper's Internet Sponge Guide.
Genera represented in the area:
Aaptos Gray, 1867 (type species Ancorina aaptos Schmidt, 1864) (syn. Trachya Carter, 1870; Tuberella Keller, 1880; Tethyophaena Schmidt, 1880): spicules styles or strongyloxeas in at least two size categories, in radiate arrangement; smaller category concentrated at the surface.
Prosuberites Topsent, 1893 (type species P . longispina Topsent, 1893): spicules erect on the substrate; heads prominent but regular.
Pseudosuberites Topsent, 1896 (type species Hymeniacidon hyalinus Ridley and Dendy, 1887): tangential ectosomal spicules.
Rhizaxinella Keller, 1880 (type species R . clavigera Keller, 1880): pedunculated, with an axial skeleton.
Suberites Nardo, 1833 (type species Alcyonium domuncula Olivi, 1792) (syn. Ficulina Gray, 1867; Syringella Schmidt, 1868 (sensu stricto); Suberanthus Lendenfeld, 1897; Suberella Thiele, 1905; Carnleia Burton, 1930a; Laxosuberella Burton, 1930a; Laxosuberites Burton, 1930a): massive, with two or more size categories of tylostyles, the smaller of which form a palisade at the surface; choanosomal spicules in bundles. often reticulated.
Terpios Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1864 (type species T . fugax D.and.M., 1864) (syn. Terpiosella Burton, 1930a): single category of thin tylostyles in confused arrangement; heads of tylostyles prominently lobed.
Species treated here:
Aaptos aaptos
Aaptos papillata
Prosuberites epiphytum
Prosuberites longispinus
Pseudosuberites hyalinus
Pseudosuberites mollis
Pseudosuberites sulphureus
Rhizaxinella elongata
Suberites carnosus
Suberites ficus
Suberites massa
Suberites suberia
Suberites virgultosus
Terpios gelatinosa
Species not treated here:
Rhizaxinella pyrifera (Chiaje, 1828), Straits of Gibraltar, deep water
Suberites ectyoninus (Topsent, 1900), Ireland, deep water
Suberites spec. Vosmaer, 1885, North Atlantic