The relationship of the stromatoporoids to the sclerosponges

Similarities of the extinct strornatoporoids to the sponges of the recently established order Sclerospongia have strengthened arguments that these fossils are closer to the Porifera than to the Coelenterata. Major features favouring the affinity of the stromatoporoids to the sclerosponges include: (1) lack of evidence of colonialism in the strornatoporoids, (2) similarity of gross structure of some stromatoporoids to that of one sclerosponge (Astrosclera), (3) fibrous microstruc‐ture of sclerosponges, Mesozoic stromatoporoids, and some Paleozoic stromatoporoids, (4) similarity of stromatoporoid astrorhizae to the excurrent canals of sclerosponges. Points of dissimilarity include: (1) the solid aragonitic skeletons of most sclerosponges, (2) the presence of dissepiments, laminae, and latilaminae in stromatoporoids, (3) the absence of siliceous spicules in stromatoporoids.