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Morrow, C.; Cárdenas, P. (2015). Proposal for a revised classification of the Demospongiae (Porifera). Frontiers in Zoology. 12: 7.
197322
10.1186/s12983-015-0099-8 [view]
Morrow, C.; Cárdenas, P.
2015
Proposal for a revised classification of the Demospongiae (Porifera)
Frontiers in Zoology
12: 7
Publication
Available for editors  PDF available
Background Demospongiae is the largest sponge class including 81% of all living sponges with nearly 7,000 species worldwide. Systema Porifera (2002) was the result of a large international collaboration to update the Demospongiae higher taxa classification, essentially based on morphological data. Since then, an increasing number of molecular phylogenetic studies have considerably shaken this taxonomic framework, with numerous polyphyletic groups revealed or confirmed and new clades discovered. And yet, despite a few taxonomical changes, the overall framework of the Systema Porifera classification still stands and is used as it is by the scientific community. This has led to a widening phylogeny/classification gap which creates biases and inconsistencies for the many end-users of this classification and ultimately impedes our understanding of today’s marine ecosystems and evolutionary processes. In an attempt to bridge this phylogeny/classification gap, we propose to officially revise the higher taxa Demospongiae classification. Discussion We propose a revision of the Demospongiae higher taxa classification, essentially based on molecular data of the last ten years. We recommend the use of three subclasses: Verongimorpha, Keratosa and Heteroscleromorpha. We retain seven (Agelasida, Chondrosiida, Dendroceratida, Dictyoceratida, Haplosclerida, Poecilosclerida, Verongiida) of the 13 orders from Systema Porifera. We recommend the abandonment of five order names (Hadromerida, Halichondrida, Halisarcida, lithistids, Verticillitida) and resurrect or upgrade six order names (Axinellida, Merliida, Spongillida, Sphaerocladina, Suberitida, Tetractinellida). Finally, we create seven new orders (Bubarida, Desmacellida, Polymastiida, Scopalinida, Clionaida, Tethyida, Trachycladida). These added to the recently created orders (Biemnida and Chondrillida) make a total of 22 orders in the revised classification. We propose the abandonment of the haplosclerid and poecilosclerid suborders. The family content of each order is also revised. Summary The deletion of polyphyletic taxa, the use of resurrected or new names for new clades and the proposal of new family groupings will improve the comparability of studies in a wide range of scientific fields using sponges as their object of study. It is envisaged that this will lead to new and more meaningful evolutionary hypotheses for the end-users of the Demospongiae classification.
Cladism, Cladistics, Phylogenetics
Molecular systematics, Molecular biology
Systematics, Taxonomy
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Date
action
by
2015-04-21 07:20:09Z
created
2015-04-21 10:18:47Z
changed
2018-02-09 09:47:49Z
changed

Astrophorina (basis of record)
Axinellida (basis of record)
Biemnida (basis of record)
Biemnidae Hentschel, 1923 (basis of record)
Bubarida (original description)
Bubaridae Topsent, 1894 (basis of record)
Chondrillida (basis of record)
Chondrosiida (basis of record)
Demospongiae (basis of record)
Dendroceratida (basis of record)
Desmacellida (original description)
Desmacellidae Ridley & Dendy, 1886 (basis of record)
Halisarcida accepted as Chondrillida (basis of record)
Haplosclerida (basis of record)
Hemiasterellidae Lendenfeld, 1889 (basis of record)
Heteroscleromorpha (basis of record)
Keratosa (basis of record)
Poecilosclerida (basis of record)
Polymastiida (original description)
Raspailiidae Nardo, 1833 (basis of record)
Rhabderemiidae Topsent, 1928 (basis of record)
Spirophorina (basis of record)
Suberitida (basis of record)
Suberitidae Schmidt, 1870 (basis of record)
Tethyida (original description)
Tethyidae Gray, 1848 (basis of record)
Tetractinellida (basis of record)
Verongiida (basis of record)
Verongimorpha (basis of record)
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