Subclass HEXASTEROPHORA Schulze, 1886
Diagnosis
Basiphytous, rhizophytous or lophophytous Hexactinellida in which microscleres are mainly or all astral, typically hexasters; amphidiscs occur rarely as variants of discohexactins; choanosomal skeletons may consist of entirely loose spicules, sometimes irregularly joined by synapticulae or silica cement at contact points, or of regularly fused hexactins forming a dictyonal framework; dictyonal nodes, where present, may be entirely simple or lychniscid (lantern nodes).
Diagnosis References
Reiswig, H. 2002. Class Hexactinellida Schmidt, 1870. pp. 1201-1202 in Hooper, J.N.A. & Soest, R.W.M. Van (eds). Systema Porifera. A guide to the classification of sponges. New York : Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers Vol. 2 [1202]