Familia Halisarcidae

Vosmaer, 1886

Definition: Thin growth form, soft texture and gelatinous surface characterise this family. The fibrous skeleton is absent entirely. Choanocyte chambers consist of specialised wide-mouthed, extended tubular and branched eurypylous forms. Parenchymella larvae are simple, lacking long terminal cilia.

Remarks: The group is of doubtful affinity and inclusion in the Dendroceratida is convenient only; recently a proposal for a new order Halisarcida has been made which still needs general acceptance. Only a single genus is recognized. Review: Bergquist, 1996.

Source: Hooper's Internet Sponge Guide.

Genus represented in the area:
Halisarca Dujardin, 1838 (type species: Halisarca dujardini Johnston, 1842): fibrous skeleton absent entirely (Bergquist, 1980).

Species included:
Halisarca dujardini

%LABEL% (%SOURCE%)