Speculation with spiculation? - Three independent gene fragments and biochemical characters versus morphology in demosponge higher classification

Demosponge higher-level systematics is currently a subject of major changes due to the simplicity and paucity of complex morphological characters. Still, sponge classification is primarily based on morphological features. The systematics of the demosponge order Agelasida has been exceptionally problematic in the past. Here, we present the first molecular phylogenetic analysis based on three partially independent genes in demosponges in combination with a comprehensive search for biochemical synapomorphies to indicate their phylogenetic relationships. We show how sponges with fundamentally different skeletons can be in fact closely related and discuss examples of the misleading nature of morphological systematics in sponges. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.