Aplysina Nardo, 1834

Gómez, Patricia, González-Acosta, Bárbara, Sánchez-Ortíz, Carlos, Hoffman, Zvi & Hernández-Guerrero, Claudia J., 2018, Amended definitions for Aplysinidae and Aplysina (Porifera, Demospongiae, Verongiida): on three new species from a remarkable population in the Gulf of California, Zootaxa 4455 (2), pp. 322-342 : 326-327

Aplysina Nardo, 1834

Type species: Aplysina aerophoba Schmidt, 1862

Definition. Aplysinidae that possess fibers of only one kind, cored by thick pith, sometimes thin, with smooth and soft material, and no foreign detritus. Most members have regular anastomosing skeleton of polygonal or hexagonal meshes but an elongated pattern is also present. Alternatively, some members exhibit a reduced anastomosed skeleton restricted to the internal choanosome, or atrium wall, from which depart a number of dendritic fibers towards the periphery of the body ( Fig.1 ). In every case, dendritic fibers towards the peripheral body conforms a conulose surface. Other Aplysinidae features are also proper for the genus.

Remarks. As ditto for the family diagnosis.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Schematic drawing of the “novel” skeletal assemblage included in the diagnosis of family Aplysinidae, as seen in the new Aplysina species described here.