THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 161 



The specimens of pingens from Ponape consistently have very sharp- 

 pointed megascleres instead of dull-pointed ones (as in the above description 

 of the type), and the isochelas are of only one size range (the larger size) 

 and sometimes have more than 4 teeth. It is possible that this merely indi- 

 cates a range of variation within a single species. However, at some future 

 time it may seem advisable to erect either a new species or subspecies for 

 the Ponape specimens. 



The specific name pingens may be translated "painting," being derived 

 from the present participle of the Latin word "to paint." 



GENUS OPHLITASPONGIA Bowerbank 



Ophlitaspongia Mima, new 



Text Figure No. 105 



This species is here represented by the following : 



U.S.N.M. No. 22839, My No. M. 125, here designated as type, collected 

 June 29, 1949, by diver at Majuro Atoll near the west end of the lagoon 

 near Laura Islet. The depth was 2 meters, and the substrate was dead 

 coral. This species is quite common in Majuro Atoll. 



U.S.N.M. No. 22842, My No. M. 131, collected July 2, 1949, by diver at 

 Majuro Atoll in the southeast corner of the lagoon near Te-elop Islet. 

 The depth was 2 meters, and the substrate was dead coral. 



This is an incrusting species less than 1 mm thick, but spreading indefi- 

 nitely over dead coral. 



The color in life was a bright red, verging towards vermillion. The 

 consistency was soft colloidal sol. 



The surface is smooth and lipostomous. 



The ectosome cannot be sharply differentiated in a species such as this 

 one, which is often only 300 jx thick. Many of the spicules are longer than 

 the total thickness of the sponge. 



The skeleton consists of smooth tylostyles with rather large round heads. 

 They vary in size from about 4 /x by 360 p. to 9 fx by 450 fi. The microscleres 

 consist of toxas which vary from 20 /x to 70 fi in length. The larger ones may 

 be as much as 3 ti or 4 /a thick. 



Very numerous species have been described in the genus Ophlitaspongia, 

 but most of them have already been transferred, quite properly, to other 

 genera. Another that needs such transfer is Ophlitaspongia inornata, Hall- 

 mann, 1912, page 265, which should be placed in Echinodathria. Others 

 should be removed, as noted below, to a new genus. The opinion is expressed 

 here that other than this new species from the western Pacific, there are 

 described in the world only three or four additional species of Ophlitaspongia. 

 The type species, which was first described as Spongia seriata by Grant, 



