THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 129 



They are, as usual, covered with exceedingly minute spines, which require 

 oil immersion for certain discovery. In the species oligostyla these spicules 

 are exceedingly abundant, practically filling large quantities of the endosome 

 of the sponge. 



This species is sharply set off by the rarity of the styles. A little more 

 and they would be gone entirely, and generic recognition would become ex- 

 ceedingly perplexing. Their place in forming the skeleton is taken in part 

 by the dermal spicules and in part by the large size and abundance of those 

 spicules which are usually merely supplementary microscleres. 



The species name is from the Greek, for few styles. 



Tedania ignis (Duchassaing & Michelotti) Verrill 



Text Figure No. 81 



This species is here represented by the following : 

 U.S.N.M. No. 22921, My No. M. 227, collected September 1, 1949, by diver 

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

 the substrate was dead coral. 



The shape, as in the case of Tedania oligostyla, is described as inter- 

 stitial. The species was common, but it was difficult to dissect as much as a 

 single cubic centimeter of only sponge. 



The ectosome color in life was vermillion red, but the endosome was 

 somewhat paler, what one might call salmon-red. The consistency was 

 softly spongy. This species, as it occurs in other parts of the world, is 

 notorious for giving rise to a skin irritation which is somewhat painful, itch- 

 ing, burning, and lasting for several days. The author obtained this same 

 annoyance from the Palau specimens. 



The surface is somewhat irregular but described as smooth. The pores 

 close very readily, and the oscules are difficult to find, largely because of the 

 extent to which the sponge .is regularly hidden in the interstices of sticks of 

 dead coral. 



The ectosome is more densely protoplasmic than the endosome, which is 

 "crumb-of-bread" or microcavernous in nature. 



The skeleton consists of typical Tedania spicules. The dermal ones are 

 rather more tylotes than strongyles, which is a little unusual; and they are 



B 



v -£. 



Text Figure No. 81. Spicules of Tedania ignis, X 781. A: Ectosomal tylote. B: Endo- 

 somal style; the entire spicule is shown, but in two parts. C: Microspined raphide. 



