Cook, S. de C.; Bergquist, P.R. (2002 [2004]). Order Dictyoceratida Minchin, 1900. Pp. 1021. In: Hooper, J.N.A. & Van Soest, R.W.M. (eds) Systema Porifera - A guide to the classification of sponges. (2 volumes) Kluwer Academic/ Plenum Publishers: New York, 1708 + xvliii. ISBN 978-1-4615-0747-5 (eBook electronic version).
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Cook, S. de C.; Bergquist, P.R.
2002 [2004]
Order Dictyoceratida Minchin, 1900. Pp. 1021. <i>In</i>: Hooper, J.N.A. & Van Soest, R.W.M. (eds) <i>Systema Porifera - A guide to the classification of sponges</i>. (2 volumes) Kluwer Academic/ Plenum Publishers: New York, 1708 + xvliii.
ISBN 978-1-4615-0747-5 (eBook electronic version)
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Available for editors
Dictyoceratida Minchin (Demospongiae) is constituted of four families and thirty six described and valid genera, several additional genera are known but have not yet been described. Sponges are tough and flexible, they are hard if debris infiltrates the matrix, or the skeletal mesh is condensed, soft when the density of the fibre skeleton in relation to soft tissue volume is reduced. The surface is typically conulose, except where densely armoured as in some species of Psammocinia. Fibres are anastomosing and, except in two genera, have a hierarchical arrangement with respect to diameter and surface orientation with primary, secondary and sometimes tertiary elements present. Fibre composition is homogeneous with growth laminae just apparent, or pithed and strongly laminated with bark and pith elements, the whole being always tightly adherent.
