Order Verongida Bergquist, 1978

Abstract

Verongida Bergquist (Demospongiae) includes sponges in which the fibrous skeleton, when present, is either anastomosing or dendritic in construction. The latter condition is always associated with a reduction in fibre in relation to soft tissue volume. Dendritic skeletons have an overall divergent plan, as the term implies, but there is frequent fasciculation along individual branches caused by divergence and con- vergence of the complex, irregular fibre elements. Thus, dendritic as applied to verongid skeletons refers to an overall divergent pattern but one which is not implemented rigidly as in the dendroceratid family Darwinellidae. Four families and ten valid genera are included, including one incertae sedis.