Trichogypsia Carter, 1871

Borojevic, Radovan, Boury-Esnault, Nicole & Vacelet, Jean, 2000, A revision of the supraspecific classification of the subclass Calcaronea (Porifera, class Calcarea), Zoosystema 22 (2), pp. 203-263 : 254

Genus Trichogypsia Carter, 1871

TYPE SPECIES. — Trichogypsia villosa Carter, 1871 by subsequent designation (Dendy & Row 1913).

DIAGNOSIS. — Trichogypsiidae with a skeleton composed of spined diactines.

DESCRIPTION

Haeckel (1872) described two subspecies that were subsequently raised by Dendy & Row (1913) to the species level: Trichogypsia (Leucyssa) incrustans Haeckel, 1872 and T. villosa Carter, 1871 . He pointed out the similarity of both the external form and the organization of the aquiferous system to Baeria nivea , but we have no information on the internal organization of the choanoderm or the choanoskeleton. We have examined the slide prepared from the original specimen, described by Carter (1871) (BMNH 1870.10.1.9). It contains a fragment of an encrusting sponge with a thick cortex elevated in conules. The cortex is supported by very densely packed parallel diactines, arranged in bunches in the conules. A large, deep cavity present at the surface is surrounded by a particular skeleton composed of bent diactines. A canal parallel to the surface is connected to this cavity. Both the canal surface and the internal skeleton consist of straight or slightly curved spiny diactines that form a rather loose network ( Fig. 46 ).

Figures

FIG. 46. — Trichogypsia villosa (Carter, 1871); A, a diagram of a transverse section of the body wall, showing a pit-like cavity and a canal parallel to the external surface that bears conules containing very densely arranged parallel diactines; B, diactines of the cortical conules; C, diactines of the internal reticular skeleton; D, diactines that line the pit-like cavity.