THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 69 



New Zealand, obviously cannot be a Reniera or Reniclona, because it has 

 large erect dermal styles. It certainly appears to be of the family Axinelli- 

 dae, but the genus is rather difficult to decide upon. With some hesitation, it 

 is here transferred to the genus Pseudotrachya. 



Reniclona decidua (Topsent) de Laubenfels 



Text Figure No. 39 



This species is here represented by the following : 

 U.S.N.M. No. 22896, My No. M. 198, collected August 10, 1949, by diver 

 on the west side of Moen Isle in Truk lagoon. The depth was 2 meters, 

 and the substrate was dead coral. 



This is an incrusting sponge, 3 mm thick, covering an area of at least 

 100 square cm. 



Text Figure No. 39. Three of the spicules (oxea) of Reniclona decidua, X 781. 



The color in life was purple, and the consistency very soft. 



The surface is level, typical of the genus Reniclona. The pores are 

 microscopic. The oscules are small ; only two occurred on the present speci- 

 men. These were about 2 mm in diameter. 



There is no ectosome, and the endosome is the usual isodictyal reticu- 

 lation. 



The skeleton consists of oxeas, varying from about 2 fi by 112 /x to 3 ju. 

 by 83 fx in dimensions. 



Topsent, 1906, page 560, described Reniera decidua from the Red Sea. 

 The present specimen is identified rather confidently with decidua, but the 

 notation must be made that this is a sponge of the permollis type and some 

 possibility exists that in the long run decidua and the present specimen should 

 be dropped in synonymy to permollis. This step is not taken at the pres- 

 ent time. 



Reniclona parietalis (Topsent) de Laubenfels 



Text Figure No. 40 



This species is here represented by the following : 

 U.S.N.M. No. 22868, My No. M. 163, collected July 11, 1949, by diver at 

 Likiep Atoll in the east end of the lagoon near Lado Island. 



