crambeidae Lévi, 1963, LeAvi, 1963

FAMILY crambeidae Lévi, 1963 View in CoL

(nomen novum pro Crambidae , preoccupied)

Diagnosis. Encrusting, tubular, ramose or massive growth forms distributed in four nominal genera: Crambe , Discorhabdella , Monanchora and Lithochela . Ectosomal megascleres consist of smooth subtylostyles in only one category, usually arranged in brushes or bundles perpendicular to the ectosome. Choanosomal megascleres are smooth or acanthose (tylo)styles in only one category, arranged in hymedesmioid, plumose or plumo-reticulate skeletal structures. Peculiar aster-like desmas (termed astroclones and spheroclones) or acanthostyles (termed pseudoastrose acanthostyles) may occur at the most basal skeletal stratum, depending upon the genus. Microscleres, when present, consist of unguiferous-anchorat e isochelae (rarely spatulate) with three to eight teeth, C-shaped sigmas (probably derived from reduced isochelae), and microspiny microxeas, depending upon species in each genera.

Remarks. See section of Discussion for further information on family name and diagnosis.