THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 59 



fibers and spicules much like those of streble, although massive instead of 

 ramose, but observed only from one specimen, so damaged and macerated 

 that most of the characteristics are not known. The peculiar dermis of 

 streble would seem to indicate a little relationship to ligulata. Among all the 

 many species described in this genus, none can be found really close to 

 streble, which is therefore exceptionally worthy of distinction. 



Haliclona koremella, new 



Text Figure No. 34 



This species is here represented by the following : 

 U.S.N.M. No. 23129, My No. M. 512, here designated as type, collected on 

 September 6, 1949, by using a fish spear, in Iwayama Bay near Ulebsechel 

 Island in the Palau Archipelago. The depth was 2 meters, and the sub- 

 strate was dead coral. 



The shape is ramose. From a very small central basal attachment, al- 

 most a point, scores of branches arise. These are about 3 or 4 mm in 

 diameter and reach a total height of at least 30 cm. Only a few of them 

 branch at all, and there are no anastomoses. The total specimen constitutes 

 a bush in horizontal measurement of about 40 by 40 cm. 



Text Figure No. 34. Two of 

 the spicules (strongyles) of 

 Haliclona koremella, X 781. 



The color in life was blue to blue-green, and the consistency spongy but 

 easily torn. 



The surface is smooth, not shiny, and is micro-punctiform, which is very 

 typical of the family Haliclonidae. The pores are microscopic and contrac- 

 tile. The oscules are less than 1 mm in diameter and set in a row, usually 

 on just one side of the erect strand, about 6 mm apart, center to center. 



As might be expected, the ectosome is nonexistent. The endosome is a 

 fibro-reticulation with scattered soft parts and rather conspicuous interstitial 

 spicules. 



The skeleton consists of fibers forming a rather rectangular reticulation. 

 The ascending tracts are about 100 /x in diameter and contain 4 to 7 spicules 

 per cross-section. These fibers terminate at the surface in microscopic little 

 projections of conulose shape. The transverse fibers are only about 15 /x in 

 diameter, and they seldom contain any spicules. As noted above, very many 

 of the spicules are not in the fibers at all, but are loose in the flesh. These 

 spicules are strongyles, 2 ^ by 78 p. to 2 /x by 88 fx in dimensions. 



Out of the very many species of the genus Haliclona, several may be 

 compared slightly to the present one, although none are extremely close. 



