Sulla coesistenza di specie strettamente affini di Poriferi in biotopi litorali

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Abstract
The coexistence of strictly related species in the same area, largely exhibited by Porifera of litoral zones, is here referred. Its ecological and evolutionary aspects are also discussed. Nine species of Clionids by Rovigno show a vertical and substrate — differentiation, with euritopic and stenotopic forms, and an alimentary specialization related to ostia dimension (Hartman). Three species of Clathrina, living in an intercotidal cave of the bay of Naples are distributed differently in relation to light and exposition. The agamic reproduction (which often alternates or substitutes sexual reproduction) and the little possibilities of diffusion of Sponges are all factors which call for a mechanism of sympatric (or micro-allopatric) speciatiou, probably on ecological and micro-geographical basis, as indicated by the adaptive specialization of the coexisting species.