THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 21 



Several species of Polyfibrospongia have been recorded from the south- 

 western Pacific, notably P. sweeti, Kirkpatrick, 1900, page 359, from Funa- 

 futi Atoll. This is extremely different from dysodes, being smooth and 

 white. Other species of this genus are pronouncedly fistulose or character- 

 ized by notable external shape — for example, the genotype flabellifera which 

 is fan-shaped. Undoubtedly, the other species closest to dysodes is P. e china 

 de Laubenfels, 1934, page 25 (described from Puerto Rico in the West Indies 

 and also by de Laubenfels, 1936, page 15, from the Dry Tortugas in the 

 same part of the world). This species resembles an Ircinia strobilina but 

 lacks the special filaments of an Ircinia. The species dysodes bears its closest 

 external and tactile relationship to Spongia zimocca. In fact, the diver who 

 collected it definitely stated that in his opinion it was that particular commer- 

 cial sponge which the Japanese had harvested and planted at the place of 

 collection. Numerous specimens of Spongia zimocca were found around the 

 one specimen of dysodes, and until histological study was made, it was im- 

 possible to discriminate between the Spongias and this Polyfibrospongia. 

 Upon maceration for later commercial use the difference would become 

 quite evident. 



The specific name is derived from a Greek word meaning "ill-smelling." 



GENUS IRCINIA 



Ircinia strobilina (Lamarck) de Laubenfels 



subspecies irregidaris (Polejaeff) de Laubenfels 



Text Figure No. 10 



This species is here represented by the following : 

 U.S.N.M. No. 23133, My No. M. 516, collected September 6, 1949, by 

 means of a fish spear, in Iwayama Bay, near Koror, in the Palaus. The 

 depth was 2 meters, and the substrate was bivalve shells. 



This is an irregularly massive sponge, 10 cm in height and 15 by 20 cm 

 in horizontal measurement. 



The external color varied from gray to black, depending upon the amount 

 of illumination falling upon it. The endosome in life was dark brick red. 

 This sponge gave off to a very striking degree the odor which is character- 

 istic of the genus Ircinia as found throughout the West Indies. The con- 



Text Figure No. 10. Structures from 

 Ircinia strobilina, subspecies irregularis, 

 X 781. A: Termination of one of the 

 filaments. B : Portion of one of the 

 strands which may be algal. 



