Sycandra Haeckel, 1872

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 : 222

Genus Sycandra Haeckel, 1872

TYPE SPECIES. — Ute utriculus Schmidt, 1870 by subsequent designation (Dendy & Row 1913).

DIAGNOSIS. — Grantiidae with a large flattened body; the atrial cavity with a complex network of tissue tracts, supported by parallel diactines.

DESCRIPTION

Dendy & Row (1913) retained Haeckel’s genus Sycandra for a single species S. utriculus that was characterized by a complex network of tissue tracts in the atrial cavity, supported by bundles of parallel diactines. Similar structures can be seen inside the atrial cavity of several large and flattened Grantiidae and Amphoriscidae . The surface of the opposite sides of the central atrial cavity can be close, touch and become coalescent (e.g. Leucilla saccharata Haeckel, 1872 ; Amphiute lepadiformis Borojevic, 1967 ). These regions thus become connected by tissue tracts support- ed by a skeleton that is derived from the atrial one, and which can contain modified atrial spicules. However, in other Sycettidae diactines are not normally present in the atrial skeleton, and the presence of an internal atrial network with a specific skeleton is a new morphological characteristic. Here we follow the opinion of Dendy & Row (1913) and consider that this character is sufficient to separate the genus from other Grantiidae .