| Homoscleromorpha | |
|---|---|
| Oscarella lobularis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Porifera |
| Class: | Demospongiae |
| Subclass: | Homoscleromorpha Bergquist, 1978 |
| Order: | Homosclerophorida Dendy, 1905 |
| Family: | Plakinidae Schulze, 1880 |
| Genera | |
|
Corticium |
|
Homoscleromorpha is a subclass (possibly a class) of marine demosponges containing a single order, Homosclerophorida and a single family, Plakinidae.
This class has recently been recognised as the fourth major line of sponges.[1]
There are less than 100 species in this family divided into 7 genera.
The spiculate genera in this family are Corticium, Plakina, Plakortis and Plakinastrella.
The aspiculate species are the genera Oscarella and Pseudocorticium.
These sponges are massive or encrusting in form and have a very simple structure with very little variation in spicule form (all spicules tend to be very small). Reproduction is viviparous and the larva is an oval form known as an amphiblastula. This form is usual in calcareous sponges but is less common in demosponges.