THE SPONGES OP THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIP1C 45 



Text Figure No. 24. Portion of one of the smaller bits of fiber in Dendrilla nigra, X 182. 



diameter in the larger ones from the Palaus. They are not circular in cross 

 section but have what may be termed scalloped edges. 



The ectosome is an obvious dermis, stretching over extensive subdermal 

 cavities. The endosome is moderately dense and obviously permeated by 

 fibers. The flagellate chambers are about 40 ^ to 60 fi and are sack-shaped 

 or eurypyllous. 



The skeleton consists of fibers which are made of stratified, yellow 

 spongin. These are semi-dendritic; they are larger near the base of the 

 sponge, where they reach a diameter of about 150 [x. As they branch more 

 and more, they become smaller until at the surface they are only about 40 /x 

 in diameter. They frequently anastomose, however, so that this is not a 

 true dendritic skeleton, but one of which much is reticulate. In fact, some 

 of the meshes are round and only 60 [x in diameter. Others are triangular 

 in shape. 



This species was first described as Spongionella nigra by Dendy, 1889, 

 page 94, from the vicinity of Ceylon. These occurrences in the Pacific 

 Islands appear to be the next record in print for this species. 



Dendrilla verongiformis, new 



Text Figure No. 25 



This species is here represented by the following: 

 U.S.N.M. No. 23104, My No. M. 486, here designated as type, collected 

 September 1, 1949, by divers in Iwayama Bay, Koror, in the Palaus. 

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



This species was moderately common in Iwayama Bay, but I did not find 

 it common elsewhere. 



This is a lamellate or ramose sponge, often as high as 20 cm, colonies also 

 reach a diameter of 20 cm. 



