Halichondrida
Encyclopedia
Halichondrida is an order of marine demosponge
s. Demosponges with simple spicule
s and a generally confused skeletal arrangement are presently grouped into this order although its monophyly
is considered suspect and further taxonomic revision can be expected.
Demosponge
The Demospongiae are the largest class in the phylum Porifera. Their "skeletons" are made of spicules consisting of fibers of the protein spongin, the mineral silica, or both. Where spicules of silica are present, they have a different shape from those in the otherwise similar glass sponges...
s. Demosponges with simple spicule
Spicule
Spicules are tiny spike-like structures of diverse origin and function found in many organisms, such as the copulatory spicules of certain nematodes or the grains on the skin of some frogs.In sponges, spicules perform a structural function....
s and a generally confused skeletal arrangement are presently grouped into this order although its monophyly
Monophyly
In common cladistic usage, a monophyletic group is a taxon which forms a clade, meaning that it contains all the descendants of the possibly hypothetical closest common ancestor of the members of the group. The term is synonymous with the uncommon term holophyly...
is considered suspect and further taxonomic revision can be expected.