Murrayonida Explained

The Murrayonida are an order of sea sponges in the subclass Calcinea.

Taxonomy

The order consists of four known species, in three families:

Family Murrayonidae Dendy & Row, 1913

• Murrayona phanolepis Kirkpatrick, 1910 - discovered by C. W. Andrews on Christmas Island^[1] and the species name proposed in honor of Sir John Murray, who financed the Christmas Island expedition, and the corresponding name was later given to the order.

Family Lelapiellidae Borojevic, Boury-Esnault & Vacelet, 1990

• Lelapiella incrustans Vacelet, 1977
• Lelapiella sphaerulifera Vacelet, 1977

Family Paramurrayonidae Vacelet, 1967

• Paramurrayona corticata Vacelet, 1967

Description

Murrayonida are distinguished from other Calcinea by having a reinforced skeleton; like another line of Calcinea, the Leucettidae, but unlike most other Calcinea, the Murrayonida sponges also have a cortex covering the cormus and a leuconoid aquiferous system.^[2]

Notes and References

1. .
2. .