70 THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 



Text Figure No. 40. Two of the spicules (oxea) of Reniclona parietalis, X 781. 



The depth was 5 meters and the substrate was dead coral. 



This is an incrusting sponge 6 mm thick and has a total horizontal 

 measurement of only 1 by 3 cm. The color in life was pale drab, and the 

 consistency very softly spongy. 



The surface is uneven, somewhat conulose, but punctiform between the 

 conules, with obvious pores about 200 p. in diameter. The oscules cannot be 

 discriminated from the pores. 



There is no ectosome, and the endosome is a typical isodictyal re- 

 ticulation. 



The skeleton consists of oxeas 4 /a by 150 /a in dimensions, and others 

 (which may be juvenile) only 0.5 ti by 90 ti. 



Topsent, 1894, page xxxix, described Reniera parietalis from the Medi- 

 terranean. With some hesitation, the present specimen is regarded as con- 

 specific with this European form. There is also a decided possibility that 

 this is a pathological or moribund specimen of permollis. Parietalis cer- 

 tainly belongs in the same group with permollis. 



Reniclona nigra (Burton) de Laubenfels 



Text Figure No. 41 



This species is here represented by the following: 

 U.S.N.M. No. 22850, My No. M. 144, collected July 5, 1949, by diver at 

 Ebon Atoll in a miniature lagoon in the south corner of the lagoon. The 

 depth was 2 meters, and the substrate was coralline algae. 



The sponge, filling the interstices in a ramose alga, might be described as 

 amorphous. There was a total mass about 3 by 4 by 5 cm. 



The color in life was black, but not glistening. The interior was the 

 same color as the exterior. The consistency was mediocre. 



The surface is punctiform with obvious pores about 200 ti in diameter. 

 The oscules were not distinguishable from the pores. 



There is no ectosome, and the endosome is an isodictyal reticulation. 



The skeleton consists entirely of sharp-pointed oxeas, about 3 ti by 

 127 [x. There are astonishingly few spicules in this specimen. 



Text Figure No. 41. One of the spicules (oxea) of Reniclona nigra, X 781. 



