Family Craticulariidae Rauff, 1893 (Recent)

Abstract

Craticulariidae Rauff (Hexactinellida, Hexactinosida), including Leptophragmidae Schrammen, [Laocoetidae] Mehl, contains a rich assemblage of fossil sponges with major abundance and diversity through the Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous, particularly in Europe. Present understanding and restriction of the family derives from Reid’s (1964) clear distinction of diplorhyses in two closely related groups: the quadruncial arrangement of aporhyses in Craticulariidae and their quincuncial arrangement in Cribrospongiidae. Although three living species have been assigned to the Craticulariidae in recent years, only one, Laocoetis perion Lévi, remains an unquestionable Recent representative. Discovery of scopules and uncinates as free spicules of L. perion have finally enabled inclusion of this very impor- tant fossil family among the main group of scopule-bearing Hexactinosa