86 THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 



Callyspongia diffusa (Ridley) Burton 



Text Figure No. 51 

 Plate IV, Figure b 



This species is here represented by the following: 

 U.S.N.M. No. 23055, My No. M. 435, collected August 1, 1949, by hand 



while wading in eastern Ponape (Matalanim) near the great ruins of 



Nan Matal. The depth was low tide mark, and the substrate was a 



combination of calcareous sand and the leaves of a monocot plant called 



"turtle grass." 

 U.S.N.M. No. 23058, My No. M. 438, collected at the same time and vicinity 



as the preceding specimen. 

 U.S.N.M. No. 23114, My No. M. 496, collected September 1, 1949, by divers 



in Iwayama Bay at Koror in the Palaus. The depth was 2 meters, and 



the substrate was dead coral. 

 U.S.N.M. No. 23143, My No. M. 527, collected September 20, 1949, by 



diver in northwest Guam, northeast of Agana, at Dungas Beach. The 



depth was less than 2 meters, and the substrate was dead coral. 



This species was common at Ponape in the vicinity of Nan Matal and 

 was one of the most nearly common of all the sponges of Guam. 



The shape is sprawling ramose. Specimens commonly attain a length 



Text Figure No. 51. Callyspongia diffusa. A: Portion of the ectosmal reticulation, X 182. 

 B: One of the spicules (oxea), X 781. 



