demoduloida

Demoduloida is a taxonomic name that has appeared in a small number of zoological publications. In current widely accepted classifications, however, it is not recognized as a valid or monophyletic group.

Usage and history: The term has been applied inconsistently across sources. Some authors described Demoduloida as an order within a class of invertebrates; others treated it as a synonym or misspelling of another taxon. The lack of stable diagnostic characters and a consensus on placement has contributed to its obscurity.

Taxonomic status: Major databases and standard references do not list Demoduloida as a valid name. When encountered in literature, it usually reflects either historical usage, ambiguous citation, or a misidentification rather than a contemporary, accepted taxon.

Etymology and characteristics: The name is constructed from classical roots, but there is no universally agreed definition or set of diagnostic traits for Demoduloida. Consequently, no reliable morphological or molecular synapomorphies are associated with the term in modern taxonomy.

See also: Demospongiae; Taxonomic nomenclature; List of extinct invertebrate taxa.