Revision of the genus Psammocinia (Porifera: Demospongiae: Dictyoceratida), with six new species from New Zealand

Abstract

The status of species within the dictyo-ceratid sponge genus Psammocinia is reviewed. The separation of Psammocinia species from the closely related Ircinia species, which has been the subject of some dispute, is clarified. This distinction made on the basis of morphological evidence is supported by the limited chemotaxonomic and molecular phylogenetic data available. Six new species of Psammocinia are described from the New Zealand region. © 1998, Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.