Spongillina Manconi & Pronzato, 2002

Manconi, Renata, Ruengsawang, Nisit, Ledda, Fabio D., Hanjavanit, Chutima & Sangpradub, Narumon, 2012, Biodiversity assessment in the Lower Mekong basin: First record of the genus Oncosclera (Porifera: Spongillina: Potamolepidae) from the Oriental Region, Zootaxa 3544, pp. 41-51 : 43

Suborder Spongillina Manconi & Pronzato, 2002 Family Potamolepidae Brien, 1967

Genus Oncosclera Volkmer-Ribeiro, 1970

[Type species substitute: Spongilla jewelli Volkmer, 1963 ]

Diagnosis (emended from Manconi & Pronzato, 2002) Potamolepidae with encrusting growth form up to some metres in diameter. Stony hard, fragile consistency. Spongin scanty except for the basal spongin plate and gemmular theca. No special ectosomal skeleton except for spicular tufts supporting conules. Choanosomal skeleton irregularly alveolate with paucispicular tracts, sometimes with ascending fibres towards the surface. Megascleres abruptly pointed oxeas to strongyles from smooth to ornamented by variably dense short spines/tubercles. Microscleres typically absent. Gemmules at the sponge base strictly adhering to the basal spongin plate, sometime free in the basal portion also in layers. Gemmular theca bi- to tri-layered with apparently absent to scarcely developed pneumatic layer of fibrous, not chambered spongin. Foramen not always evident. Gemmuloscleres tangentially arranged, elongate to ovoid oxeas to strongyles, variably ornamented to entirely smooth.