SCEPTRULOPHORA MEHL, 1992

Dohrmann, Martin, Göcke, Christian, Janussen, Dorte, Reitner, Joachim, Lüter, Carsten & Wörheide, Gert, 2011, Systematics and spicule evolution in dictyonal sponges (Hexactinellida: Sceptrulophora) with description of two new species, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 163 (4), pp. 1003-1025 : 1008

SCEPTRULOPHORA MEHL, 1992

Diagnosis: Dictyonal Hexactinellida with sceptrules; if sceptrules lacking (which is rare), dictyonal skeleton usually euretoid or farreoid. Uncinates and oxy- and/or discohexasters usually present.

Remarks: Mehl (1992) did not give a formal diagnosis for Sceptrulophora , and this taxon is not recognized in Systema Porifera ( Hooper & van Soest, 2002). However, monophyly of the group is strongly supported by morphology ( Mehl, 1992; Dohrmann et al., 2008) and by molecular data ( Dohrmann et al., 2008, 2009; this study). Sceptrulophora is here formally introduced for the sake of a more natural (i.e. phylogeny-based) classification; for the time being it is best given subordinal rank within Hexactinosida, although the latter taxon is likely to be a paraphyletic assemblage in need of revision ( Mehl, 1992; Dohrmann et al., 2008, 2009). Although this might require erection of a second suborder for the remaining hexactinosidans – essentially Dactylocalycidae , which might itself be an artificial group – we refrain from such a move here. Instead, we follow Ebach & Williams (2010) and designate Hexactinosida and Dactylocalycidae as ‘aphyletic’ taxa.

Scope: The following families are included in Sceptrulophora : Aphrocallistidae Gray, 1867 , Auloplacidae Schrammen, 1912 (=Auloplax Schulze, 1904), Craticulariidae Rauff, 1893 (= Laocoetis Pomel, 1872 ), Cribrospongiidae Roemer, 1864 (= Stereochlamis Schrammen, 1912 ), Euretidae Zittel, 1877 , Farreidae Gray, 1872 , Fieldingiidae Tabachnick & Janussen, 2004 (= Fieldingia Kent, 1870 ), and Tretodictyidae Schulze 1886 . The order Fieldingida , which was solely erected for Fieldingia ( Tabachnick & Janussen, 2004) is consequently abolished. Inclusion of Stereochlamis is somewhat provisional because loose spiculation has not been reported yet for this poorly known taxon ( Reiswig, 2002c); however, it has a euretoid skeletal organization and therefore fits the diagnosis given above. Tretopleura Ijima, 1927 will also have to be moved to Sceptrulophora because it includes one species with scopules [ Tretopleura styloformis ( Tabachnick, 1988) ; loose spicules from the second (type) species are unknown]. Although currently classified in Aulocalycoida: Uncinateridae ( Reiswig, 2002d) , an affinity of Tretopleura to Euretidae has been suggested previously (see Tabachnick & Reiswig, 2000); this problematic genus (cf. Reiswig, 2002d) is currently under revision (K. R. Tabachnick, pers. comm.).