Ectyonopsis


Ectyonopsis is a genus of demosponges in the family Myxillidae. They are mostly known from the waters surrounding Australia and from the Southern Ocean.

Description

This species was originally created for Ectyonopsis ramosa, an Australian species with acanthostyles and acanthostrongyles that form a choanosomal isotropic structure. The genus Ectyonancora, which contained two South African species with acanthostyles, acanthostrongyles, ectosomal tornotes, and isochelae spicules with protruding processes, was later synonymised with this genus.
All the species in this genus share several features. The tornotes are smooth with triangular/sharply pointed ends. Thick, heavily spined styles are isotopically reticulated and are covered by thick acanthostyles. The microscleres are robust isochelae with processes and broad rounded ends.

Species

The following species are recognised: Ectyonopsis flabellata Ectyonopsis hartmani Ectyonopsis panis Ectyonopsis pluridentata Ectyonopsis ramosa Carter, 1883Ectyonopsis ruthae Ectyonopsis sigmata Aguilar-Camacho & Carballo, 2012