New Perspectives on the Hexactinellid Genus Dactylocalyx Stutchbury

摘要: In spite of its important position in the early taxonomic history Hexactinellida, Dactylocalyx remains a poorly known genus. As Schulze (1887) pointed out, D. pumiceus was most likely first hexactinellid referred to 1780; when described by Stutchbury 1841, it dictyonine and fourth recognized species group that eventually formed class Hexactinellida. It served repeatedly as basis for Dactylocalycidae schemes Gray (1867) Ijima (1903), although type specimen never depicted characters barely appreciated. largest common throughout western tropical Atlantic. Interest genus renewed with Reid’s (1957, 1962) resurrection surprising transfer Lychniscosa. I provide here short review genus, present result skeletal soft-tissue investigations on recently collected specimens.