BENDY NON-CALCAREOUS SPONGES 99 



It is interesting to speculate as to whether or not this widely distributed form has 

 arisen polyphyletically by reduction of species of Ancorina in the different localities 

 where it occurs, or whether such reduction has taken place only once in one locality 

 and been followed by extensive migration. In the present state of our knowledge this 

 question cannot, of course, be settled. 



Previously known Distribution. West Australia (Carter) ; Victoria (Carter) ; 

 Hayti (Carter) ; South West Australia (Hentschel) ; Cargados Carajos (Dendy). 



Register Number and Locality. V. 2, S. of Chindi Keef, 6-10 fms., 18.12.05. 



4. Geodia variospiculosa Thiele. 



Geodia variospiculosa Thiele [1898]. 



Geodia variospiculosa var. clavigera Thiele [1898]. 



Geodia variospiculosa Lendenfeld [1903]. 



Geodia variospiculosa var. typica Lendenfeld [1910]. 



Geodia variospiculosa var. intermedia Lendenfeld [1910]. 



Geodia variospiculosa var. micraster Lendenfeld [1910]. 



Geodia variospiculosa var. aapta Lebwohl [1914]. 



Although this species has hitherto been recorded only from Japanese waters, I 

 have no hesitation in referring to it the only specimen of a geodiid sponge in 

 Mr. HornelPs collection, and in support of my identification I furnish the following 

 details. 



The sponge is almost spherical, about 14 mm. in diameter, and has evidently 

 been attached to the substratum by one side. The surface is almost smooth, but 

 slightly uneven. No pores or vents are visible under a pocket lens. The colour 

 in alcohol (after formalin) is very light grey. 



There is a thin external fur of small, radially disposed oxea, containing also 

 the cladi of protria3nes (and possibly anatrieenes). This rests upon the cortical 

 layer of sterrasters, which is about 0-26 mm. thick. The main choanosomal skeleton 

 consists of dense radial bundles composed of large oxea and of the shafts of 

 trisenes, whose cladi are for the most part extended just beneath the cortical 

 layer of sterrasters. 



Spiculation. (1) Long, slender oxea of the choanosome ; straight or nearly so, 

 gradually and finely pointed at each end, measuring about 2-0 by 0-028 mm. 



(2) Short oxea of the surface fur ; fusiform, almost straight, almost stylote, with 

 .the narrow inner end slightly rounded off; measuring about 0-2 by 0-0082 mm. 



(3) Orthotriaenes ; with long, straight shaft tapering gradually to a slender 

 point, and simple, conical cladi ; shaft about 1-8 by 0-05 mm., with cladi about 

 0-24 by 0-034 mm. 



(4) Dichotrisenes ; resembling (3) but with cladi once bifurcate. 



(5) Mesoprotrisenes ; shaft very long and slender, say about 3-7 by 0-017 mm. ; 



