Irciniidae Gray 1867

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

South Pacific Ocean, Duration 10 seconds

Hircinia campana.

Figure 15Ircinia dendroides. a specimen with typical cylindrical ramifications b details of the skeletal network with cored primary fibres, uncored secondaries forming large cribrose plates, and filaments with the typical apical knob. a modified from Pulitzer-Finali and Pronzato (1980) b modified from Rubió-Lois et al. (1981).

Figure 16Ircinia oros. a specimen with an epibiotic haliclonid (lightest area) b magnifications (LM) of typical irciniid skeletal filaments c schematic drawings of cored primary fibres, uncored secondary network and a filament with the terminal knob. c modified from Rubió-Lois et al. (1981).

Figure 17Ircinia paucifilamentosa. Peculiar shape of the terminal knobs of filaments in the only available illustration for this species. Modified from Vacelet (1961).

Figure 18Ircinia retidermata. a habitus of the type specimen b an underwater image of a living specimen c, d, e different magnifications (LM) of the skeletal network showing cored primary fibres, uncored secondaries, and the typical irciniid filaments f sponge surface finely granulate by mineral debris embedded in a very close fibrillar network. a modified from Pulitzer-Finali and Pronzato (1980).

Figure 19Ircinia variabilis. a–c wide array of growth forms in different specimen d skeletal spongin network of primary and secondary fibres, and filaments (LM) e skeletal spongin network of primary and secondary fibres, and filaments (SEM) f magnification of a filament at the terminal knob; g, h regularly and finely sandy sponge surface. d) modified from Pronzato et al. (2004).

Figure 20Sarcotragus fasciculatus. a living specimen (ca. 7 cm) b type specimen 15499 of the Schmidt’s collection preserved in the Landes Museum Joanneum of Graz c skeletal network without inclusions in primary fibres (detail of b). b, c modified from Pronzato et al. (2004).

Figure 21Sarcotragus foetidus. a a large (ca. 40 cm) living specimen free of epibiotic organisms b magnification of the sponge surface network c large specimen (ca. 35 cm) with dense epibiotic organisms d uncored skeleton fibre e very thin filaments.

Figure 22Sarcotragus pipetta. a living specimen in the Mitigliano Cave b type specimen 15495 from the Algerian coasts of the Schmidt’s collection in the Landes Museum Joanneum of Graz c skeletal network close to the sponge surface (LM) with ascending primary fibres supporting conules and filaments.

Figure 23Sarcotragus spinosulus. a, b specimens with different growth form c–g different magnifications of skeletal network with primary and secondary fibres, and filaments (LM and SEM).