Family Desmanthidae Topsent, 1893

Abstract

Desmanthidae Topsent (Demospongiae, ‘lithistids’) contains four genera, Desmanthus, Paradesmanthus, Sulcastrella, and provisionally at least, Petromica, together with about eleven species world-wide, both from shallow and deep water. These are mostly encrusting, rarely massive sponges, characterized by monaxial complex branching desmas, often loosely articulated, and styles and/or oxeas which are per- pendicular to the sponge surface and may occur in bundles. No microscleres are present, except in one species. Genera are differentiated on the base of habitus and desma shape, and presence of microscleres.