Family Irciniidae Gray, 1867

Abstract

Irciniidae Gray (Demospongiae, Dictyoceratida) consists of three valid genera, with approximately 72 species described worldwide. Irciniids are readily identified by the presence of very fine collagenous filaments with beaded ends in the mesohyl, which supplement the fibre skeleton. The abundance of these filaments varies between species, but this is not a significant diagnostic generic character. Genera are distinguished by the presence of a cortical armour, the degree of primary fibre fasciculation, and the presence of a foreign debris core within these fibres.