Strongylodesma Lévi, 1969

Samaai, Toufiek, Keyzers, Robert & Davies-Coleman, Michael, 2004, A new species of Strongylodesma Lévi, 1969 (Porifera; Demospongiae; Poecilosclerida; Latrunculiidae) from Aliwal Shoal on the east coast of South Africa, Zootaxa 584, pp. 1-11 : 5

Genus Strongylodesma Lévi, 1969

Type species. Strongylodesma areolata Lévi, 1969: 959

Diagnosis. Spherical or semispherical Latrunculiidae with elevated volcano­shaped or cylindrical oscules and fungiform or concave elliptical areolate porefields. Colour in life brown to reddish brown. Choanosomal architecture consists of megascleres arranged in an irregular, large­meshed reticulation formed by wispy tracts of spicules, which lack spongin reinforcement. Ectosome clear of microscleres, subectosomal skeleton is a clear thick band of collagenous mesohyl, the base of which is lined with a thin band of paratangential megascleres. Megascleres support the raised surface structures and may protrude beyond the surface. Megascleres are smooth, or terminally spined strongyles in one size category, microscleres are absent (modified from Samaai & Kelly, 2002).