A rearrangement of the family Tethyidae (Porifera Hadromerida) with establishment of new genera and description of two new species

Abstract

The discovery of new species, a study of the type material of already described species and an analysis of the literature data call for an extensive rearrangement of the Family Tethyidae, whose last revision dates from Burton (1924). The rearrangement proposed here attributes to the Family eight genera: Tethya Lam. (type genus), Burtonitethya gen. nov., Columnitis Schmidt, Halicometes Topsent, Stellitethya gen. nov., Tectitethya gen. nov., Tethycometes gen. nov. and Xenospongia Gray. The genus Aaptos is excluded from the Tethyidae. Three of the new genera have been established for species previously attributed to the genus Tethya and two are new: Burtonitethya gemmiformis (Burton & Rao) and Tethycometes sibogae sp. nov. Five species, previously attributed to Tethya, are considered 'incertae sedis'. An analytical key and discussion of the evolution of the family are included. © 1994 The Linnean Society of London.