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THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 



Text Figure No. 49. Spicules of Neopetrosia pandora, X 781. A: Three oxeas from 

 specimen M. 425. B: Two oxeas from specimen M. 504. C : Three oxeas from specimen 



M. 410. 



The surface is nearly smooth but is microscopically roughened. The 

 pores are about 20 /x to 90 xx in diameter and 150 /x apart, center to center. 

 Often the smaller ones are in groups of two or three, each such group prob- 

 ably representing a skeletal pore. The oscules are about 2 mm in diameter 

 and 2 cm apart. 



There is no ectosomal specialization, the surface being rather typical of 

 the family Haliclonidae. The endosome is micro-cavernous, with spicules in 

 some confusion outlining these chambers, but some of the spicules also are 

 loosely organized into tracts. These are sufficiently vague that their diameters 

 may be only approximately stated, but 100 /x to 400 /x may be mentioned. 



Little or no spongin is present in the skeleton, and the very abundant 

 spicules, which are all oxeas, vary from 0.5 /x by 35 /x to 2.5 /x by 95 /x. 



Nearly every specimen of pandora collected appears to be a new species. 

 The other one which is most like the type specimen, from Ponape, is No. M. 

 212 from the western portion of Truk. Its spicules are slightly thicker, its 

 color somewhat more greenish, and the organization of pores into groups is 

 somewhat more marked. The second specimen from Truk, No. M. 452, is 

 very similar to the type in most ways, but is much smaller, perhaps because 

 it is juvenile. Its outstanding feature is the fact that its endosome, unlike 

 all the others discussed for this species, is not pale drab but bright orange 

 instead. Specimen No. M. 223 from Koror was very much like the type in 

 practically every respect except one. This is extremely and conspicuously 



