172 THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 



each and the next are narrower than the diameters of the pores. The os- 

 cules are 1 mm or a little more than 1 mm in diameter, the exact figure being 

 difficult to state because of their readiness to close. These are few in number, 

 a fairly large specimen having as little as three or four oscules only unless 

 additional ones (being completely closed) were overlooked. 



The ectosome, as in the preceding species, is elaborate, characterized by 

 numerous bouquets of spicules, points outward. The endosome contains 

 spongin figers which are extremely plumose, as characteristic of the family 

 Axinellidae, although there is no axial specialization. 



The skeleton consists, other than spongin, of spicules of one type only. 

 These are smooth styles, about 16 fx by 550 ll in dimensions. 



Most of these species now referred to the genus Homaxinella are ramose 

 rather than lobate, and most of them have fairly smooth surfaces, hispid, but 

 not at all like this compound, or Higginsia-Yike type. One species, however, 

 does have this same sort of ectosome. This was described as Axinella rudis 

 by Verrill, 1907, page 297, from Bermuda, and transferred to Homaxinella 

 by de Laubenfels, 1950, page 87. It here is thought to be very much the 

 closest relative of trachys. Its spicules were somewhat smaller, its color 

 much more red, and its shape more ramose. 



The species name trachys is derived from the Greek word meaning 

 "rough" and refers to the peculiar surface of this species. 



Homaxinella phrix, new 



Text Figure No. 113 



This species is here represented by the following : 

 U.S.N.M. No. 23080, My No. M. 462, here designated as type, collected 

 August 13, 1949, by hand while wading in very shallow water in the 

 west part of Truk lagoon south of Polle Islet. The depth was about 30 

 cm, and the substrate was coral sand. 



This is a ramose sponge, with branches 4 to 8 mm in diameter, reaching 

 a height of at least 35 cm. It was very abundant in the type locality. 



The ectosome and endosome color in life was yellow, and the consistency 

 is extremely spongy. 



The surface is irregular with scattered spots which are very hispid. 



A __ ___ 



. STB 



Text Figure No. 113. Spicules (styles) of Homaxinella phrix, X 782. A: One of the 

 smallest size range. B: Head only of one of the largest size range. 



