THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 175 



Reef, northeast of Australia, established Pararhaphoxya for the species tenui- 

 ramosa, which is the only species placed in the genus thus far. Burton found 

 some spicules as large as 14 p by 1,500 /*, but his description in other respects 

 agrees with these from Ponape so closely, especially with Specimen No. M. 

 442, that it is considered inadvisable to erect a new species at this time. The 

 study of further specimens at a later date may indicate the advisability of 

 erection of such a new species. 



GENUS AXINOSIA Hallman 

 Axinosia xutha, new 



Text Figure No. 115 



This species is here represented by the following: 

 U.S.N.M. No. 23097, My No. M. 479, here designated as type, collected 

 August 17, 1949, by diver at Kuop Atoll in the northeast corner of the 

 lagoon to the lee of Givry Islet. The depth was 2 meters, and the sub- 

 strate was dead coral. 



This sponge is an irregular cylinder, perhaps tending in the direction 

 of becoming a fan if it were to continue growth. The diameter is 2.5 by 3 

 cm, and the vertical measurement 12 cm. 



The color in life was bright orange, and amazingly this color is still 

 present after six months in alcohol. Such retention of pigment of orange 

 color in very unusual in the phylum Porifera. The consistency was spongy. 



The surface is like that of Higginsia, which is to say also like that of 

 Homaxinella trachys. About 5 mm apart, center to center, are projections 

 as much as 4 or 5 mm high and about 2 mm in diameter. These projections, 

 which are almost branches, are in turn secondarily granular or tuberculate. 

 The meandering valleys between these projections are smooth, and the valley 

 floor is abundantly dotted with pores, mostly about 50 fi in diameter but 

 varying from 30 /x to 100 p.. There are several for each square mm in the 

 dermal membrane, where they are separated from each other by only narrow 

 partitions. The oscules could not be made out. 





c- V 



Text Figure No. 115. Spicules of Axinosia xutha, X 781. A: Style. B: Strongyle. 



