140 



THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 



present author, subsequent to publication of the above-mentioned 1936 mono- 

 graph of the phylum Porifera, discovered that Schmidt had himself in 1864, 

 page 35, officially designated compressa as type of the genus Clathria. Now 

 if compressa really did have acanthostyles as echinating spicules, the subse- 

 quent actions of Schmidt would be intelligible and give genuine justification 

 for the actions of those other authors who have often referred such species 

 to the genus Clathria. Not before, but after most of such allocations had 

 been made, Topsent, 1925, page 647, described material which he said had 

 been identified by Schmidt as being Clathria compressa, and Topsent's de- 

 scription includes echinating acanthostyles. Since it turns out that compressa 

 and not coralloides is the type, this is very interesting. Had Topsent desig- 

 nated some of the material which he had for description as neotypes of the 

 genus, it would certainly be advisable to revive Clathria for the specimens 

 with echinating acanthostyles. Although this action was not definitely taken, 

 it is here considered advisable to resume using Clathria for the type of sponge 

 which by many authors in the past has been referred to this genus. 



Clathria fasciculata Wilson 



Text Figure No. 89 



This species is here represented by the following : 

 U.S.N.M. No. 22910, My No. M. 215, collected August 13, 1949, by diver 



in the west part of the Truk lagoon, specifically at Lemotol Bay. The 



depth was 4 meters, and the substrate was dead coral. 

 U.S.N.M. No. 22920, My No. M. 226, collected September 1, 1949, by divers 



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



and the substrate was dead coral. 



The shape of many specimens is clavate ; but when branches occur, as 

 often is the case, the term ramose is indicated. The cylindrical portions are 

 usually 2 to 3 cm in diameter, and a vertical measurement of at least 30 cm 

 is reached. 



v&Z 



Text Figure No. 89. Spicules of Clathria fasciculata, X 782. A and B: Styles. C : Raph- 

 ide or toxa? D: Echinating acanthostyle. E: Palmate isochela, side view. 



