New family and genus for Dendrilla-like sponges with characters of Verongiida. Part I Redescription of Dendrilla lacunosa Hentschel 1912, diagnosis of the new family Ernstillidae and Ernstilla n. g

Publication date: Available online 19 March 2019Source: Zoologischer AnzeigerAuthor(s): Jean Vacelet, Dirk Erpenbeck, Cristina Diaz, Hermann Ehrlich, Jane FromontAbstractMorphological and molecular characters have identified a new family and genus of Verongiida in the Porifera: Demospongiae. The taxa are based on a new study of Dendrilla lacunosa Hentschel, 1912, a species that, using integrative taxonomy, has been found to belong to Verongimorpha instead of Keratosa. The species suite of characters require the erection of a new genus, Ernstilla n. gen. with affinities to Ianthellidae. However, the dendritic skeleton, absence of cells within the fibers, and molecular characters distinguish it from this family and prompts the establishment of a new family, Ernstillidae.Graphical abstractType-specimen of Dendrilla lacunosa Hentschel, 1912, Zoologisches Museum, Hamburg.

Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - March 21, 2019 Category: Zoology Source Type: research