Axinellidae

Axinellidae
Axinella polypoides
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Axinellida
Family: Axinellidae
Carter, 1875
Genera

10 genera (see text)

Synonyms
  • Phakellidae Gray, 1867

Axinellidae is a family of sponges in the order Axinellida.

This family includes some photosynthetic sponges that occur throughout the world's coral reefs.[citation needed] They are among the more common sponges seen in the aquarium trade, but are usually not successful species in captivity, and not ones that thrive in the small household tank environment.[citation needed] They are common throughout the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean coral reefs.[citation needed] Species which derive their nutrition from sunlight must stay fairly close to the surface in order for their zooxanthellae to produce the sugars these sponges use to survive.[citation needed]

Genera

There are ten genera:

References

  1. ↑ Carter, H. J. (1875). Notes introductory to the study and classification of the Spongida. Part II. Proposed classification of the Spongida. Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 4(16): 126-145.
  2. 1 2 Van Soest RW, Boury-Esnault N, Hooper JN, Rützler K, de Voogd NJ, de Glasby BA, Hajdu E, Pisera AB, Manconi R, Schoenberg C, Janussen D, Tabachnick KR, Klautau M, Picton B, Kelly M, Vacelet J, eds. (2022). "Axinellidae Carter, 1875". World Porifera Database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2 August 2026.