Acarnus is a genus of sponges belonging to the family Acarnidae.[2] The genus has almost cosmopolitan distribution (except Europe).[2]

Acarnus
Acarnus erithacus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Poecilosclerida
Family: Acarnidae
Genus: Acarnus
(Gray, 1867)
Species

See text.

Synonyms[1]
  • Acanthacarnus (Lévi, 1952)
  • Acarnus (Acanthacarnus) (Lévi, 1952)
  • Acarnus (Acarnus) (Gray, 1867)
  • Fonteia (Gray, 1867)
  • Microtylotella (Dendy, 1896)
  • Trefortia (Deszö, 1880)

Description

edit

Species are non-fistulose sponges with encrusting to massive growth forms. They have ectosomal tylotes (long, slender megascleres with knobs at both ends) with microspined ends. These form tangential or paratangential tracts.[3] The choanosomal skeleton is isodictyal (triangular mesh in which each side is one spicule long), isotropic (no differentiation into primary or secondary tracts, lines or fibers), or anisotropic (primary and secondary tracts, lines or fibers). In encrusting species, it may occasionally be plumose (skeletal structures radiate from primary fibres or spicule tracts) or hymedesmioid (monoaxon megascleres arranged singly with the heads fixed to a spongin base and the points directed outwards).[3] The skeletal tracts are covered with smooth styles, which may be spined by cladotylotes. Cladotylotes are unique to this genus. They are monoaxon megascleres with at least one hooked end. The other end may also have hooks, or it may be a pronounced smooth knob.[4] The microscleres are palmate isochelae and several forms of toxas.[3]

Species

edit

The following species are recognised:[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Acarnus Gray, 1867". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  2. ^ a b "Acarnus Gray, 1867". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Hooper, John N. A. (2002), Hooper, John N. A.; Van Soest, Rob W. M.; Willenz, Philippe (eds.), "Family Acarnidae Dendy, 1922", Systema Porifera, Boston, MA: Springer US, pp. 412–431, doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-0747-5_51, ISBN 978-0-306-47260-2, retrieved 2021-08-15
  4. ^ "Marine Species Identification Portal : Sponges of the NE Atlantic : Glossary : cladotylote". species-identification.org. Retrieved 2021-08-15.