30 



THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 



Likiep Atoll near the east end of the lagoon, near Lado Islet. The depth 

 was 5 meters, and the substrate was dead coral. 



U.S.N.M. No. 22806, My No. N. 012, collected June 5, 1946, by W. R. 

 Taylor by dredging near the center of the lagoon of Eniwetok Atoll. 

 The depth was 35 meters. This is the specimen which was nearly 

 covered by Lissodendoryx calypta. (See page 133, and Plate 8, Fig- 

 ure b.) 



U.S.N.M. No. 23043, My No. M. 422, collected August 1, 1949, by diver, at 

 eastern Ponape (Matalanim) from a reef in the lagoon, near an entrance 

 to the lagoon. The depth was 5 meters, and the substrate was dead coral. 



U.S.N.M. No. 23068, My No. M. 448, collected August 9, 1949, by diver in 

 the central portion of the Truk lagoon near Scheiben Islet, northwest of 

 Moen Islet. The depth was 2 meters, and the substrate was dead coral. 



U.S.N.M. No. 23108, My No. M. 490, collected September 1, 1949, by divers 

 in Iwayama Bay, Koror, in the Palaus. The depth was 2 meters, and 

 the substrate was dead coral. 



U.S.N.M. No. 23116, My No. M. 498, collected September 2, 1949, by diver, 

 in Komebail Lagoon, northwest of Koror, in the Palaus. The depth 

 was 5 meters, and the substrate was dead coral. 



This species was abundant and widely distributed. It occurred in nearly 

 all parts of the lagoon at Ailing-lap-lap and often was the only sponge in 

 sight. It was not found at Majuro. It was abundant at Ebon, great bushes 

 of it being observed at the large shoal in the center of the lagoon. It was 

 fairly common at Likiep. In Ponape, it occurred not only where collected 



Text Figure No. 15. Portion of the fibrous skeleton of Thorectopsamma mela, X 182. 



