Neophrissospongia Pisera and Lévi, 2002

Dias, Alan, Kelly, Michelle & Pinheiro, Ulisses, 2023, Two news species of Corallistidae (Porifera; Demospongiae; Tetractinellida) with a first record of Awhiowhio from the Atlantic, Zootaxa 5277 (1), pp. 182-192 : 184

Genus Neophrissospongia Pisera and Lévi, 2002

Definition. Irregular cup-shaped to contorted lamellate masses, ear-shaped or massive clavate growth forms. Ectosomal spicules are dichotriaenes bearing on the upper cladome surface strong spines and/or tubercles; choanosomal desmas are dicranoclones; microscleres are massive streptasters/amphiasters, acanthose microtylostyles, microstyles, microstrongyles and rarely strongyles. (modified from Pisera & Vacelet 2011; our amendments in boldface).

Remarks. The definition has been modified from that given by Pisera & Vacelet (2011) to include microstyles, microstrongyles and strongyles found in some specimens of Neophrissospongia microstylifera ( Lévi & Lévi, 1983) , Neophrissospongia radjae Pisera & Vacelet, 2011 , Neophrissospongia nolitangere ( Schmidt, 1870) , Neophrissospongia endoumensis Pisera & Vacelet, 2011 and Neophrissospongia jorgeorum sp. nov.

Type species. Corallistes nolitangere Schmidt, 1870 (type by original designation).