Document of bibliographic reference 100721

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Biochemical genetic divergence and systematics in sponges of the genera Corticium and Oscarella (Demospongiae: Homoscleromorpha) in the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

The sponge sub-class Homoscleromorpha is generally considered to include just two families, the Oscarellidae (without spicules) and the Plakinidae (with simple spicules). In May 1990, an unusual sponge was found deep inside a submarine cave in the western Mediterranean Sea. On the basis of externally visible characters this sponge appeared indistinguishable from the common plakinid species Corticium candelabrum. However, on close examination in the laboratory the new sponge proved to be devoid of spicules. Therefore, despite great morphological similarities to C. candelabrum, the new sponge should, by taxonomic convention, have been placed in the Oscarellidae. On the basis of other criteria, the similarities to C. candelabrum were great and the new sponge was at first considered to be conspecific. Thus, the taxonomic position of the new sponge and its relationship to C. candelabrum are highly confusing.

Bibliographic citation

Solé-Cava, A.M.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Vacelet, J.; Thorpe, J.P. (1992). Biochemical genetic divergence and systematics in sponges of the genera Corticium and Oscarella (Demospongiae: Homoscleromorpha) in the Mediterranean Sea. Mar. Biol. (Berl.) 113: 299-304. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00347284

Topic

Marine

Is peer reviewed

true