Family Bubaridae Topsent, 1894

Abstract

Bubaridae Topsent (Demospongiae, Halichondrida) is used here in the restricted sense of Topsent (1928c) to group exclusively encrusting forms that were related to the family Axinellidae at one time or another. The family includes four valid genera and approximately 30 species, characterised by a basal layer of interlacing spicules, generally diactines, and erect monactines spicules, with bases embedded in the basal layer, projecting perpendicularly to the substratum. Most species of the family are found in deep waters down to 1300m but shallow water species are also known.