THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 7\ 



Burton in 1929, page 70, described Reniera nigra from the west coast 

 of Africa. His description agrees so closely with this sponge from Ebon 

 that it is not considered advisable to erect a new species here, although it is 

 somewhat doubtful that the sponge from the west Pacific is really identical 

 with that from Africa. 



Reniclona massalis (Carter) de Laubenfels 



Text Figure No. 42 



This species is here represented by the following : 

 U.S.N.M. No. 22991, My No. M. 369, collected July 7, 1949, by diver in 

 Ebon Atoll near the southeast portion of the lagoon. The depth was 2 

 meters, and the substrate was a gorgonian, which was a bush-like form, 

 1 meter high, 1 meter wide, and had more than 200 branches. 



Text Figure No. 42. One of the spicules (oxea) of Reniclona massalis, X 781. 



The shape of this sponge is incrusting with a vertical measurement of 

 3 cm. It is laterally indefinitely spreading, to at least a width of 11 cm. 



The color in life was pale mahogany to a depth of 2 mm. Below that 

 the endosome was very pale drab. The consistency was crumbly. 



The surface is rough but very even. The pores are microscopic and 

 closed, and the oscules are 3 mm in diameter, obviously at once branching 

 into conspicuous vertical canals. These oscules are several cm apart. 



There is no ectosome. The endosome is an isodictyal reticulation, but 

 it is astonishingly full of protoplasmic structures as compared to other mem- 

 bers of the genus Reniclona.. 



The skeleton consists of oxeas 6 /i by 160 p. in dimensions. 



This distinctive species was described as Thalysias massalis by Carter, 

 1886, page 50, from Australia. The present record is the first one from 

 other than Australian localities. 



Reniclona rotographura, new 



Text Figure No. 43 



This species is here represented by the following : 

 U.S.N.M. No. 23009, My No. M. 389, here designated as type, collected on 

 July 11, 1949, by diver at Likiep Atoll at the east end of the lagoon, 

 near Lado Islet. The depth was 5 meters, and the substrate was dead 

 coral. 



