Order Scopalinida Morrow & Cárdenas, 2015

Definition: Encrusting, massive or erect flabellate growth forms; smooth or conulose surface supported by prominent spongin fibres cored with spicules; megascleres styles and/or oxeas, often with telescoped ends; no ectosomal skeleton; tissue contains an unusual cell type filled with refractile granules. (Modified from Morrow and Cárdenas (2015) to include oxeas among megascleres.)

Remarks: As the focus of this paper is alpha taxonomy, rather than a revision of higher taxonomy, I have retained the definition of Morrow and Cárdenas (2015), adding oxeas among the megascleres as the only modification. However, it should be noted that a more thorough revision is needed, and would likely result in further changes. The description of Svenzea zeai, for example, does not include prominent spongin fibers.