Sponges of Andaman and Nicobar Islands : Occasional Paper No. 385

Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. Physiology of Sponges: i. General organisation. ii. Digestive system. iii. Canal system. iv. Skeleton. v. Reproduction. vi. Defence mechanism of sponges.  3. Study area and methodology: i. Topography of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. ii. Survey areas. iii. Sponge collection.  4. Systematics of sponge: 1. Phylum porifera grant, 1836. 2. Class demospongiae sollas, 1885. 3. Order homosclerophorida Dendy, 1905. 4. Family plakinidae schluze, 1880. 5. Order spirophorida bergguist and Hogg, 1966. 6. Family Tetillidae sollas, 1886. 7. Order astrophorida sollas, 1888. 8. Family ancorinidae Schmidt, 1870. 9. Order Hadromerida topsent, 1894. 10. Family Clionidae d’ orbigny, 1851. 11. Family spirastrellidae Ridley and Dendy, 1886.  12. Family Tethyidae gray, 1848. 13. Order poecilosclerida topsent, 1928. 14. Suborder microcionina Hajdu, van Soest and Hooper, 1994. 15. Family acarnidae Dendy, 1922. 16. Family microcionidae carter, 1875…. References. Index.