180 



THE SPONGES OP THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIEIC 



thinner oxea. In the type species the latter is microspined near its ends. 

 There are quite a number of species of sponge, particularly in the family 

 Axinellidae, in which there is a tendency for spicules to vary from oxeas to 

 strongyles with intermediates, all actually being of the same category. This 

 is emphatically not the case for the sponge under discussion. Within the 

 family Halichondriidae, the genus most suitable for comparison is Desmoxya. 

 Its megascleres vary from oxeas to styles to strongyles, but are not so sharply 

 separated into categories. Its microscleres include trichodragmas and slightly 

 larger raphides, 30 [x to 45 [x long, which are microspined near the end. At- 

 tention is called to the exceedingly great difference between these very fine 

 microscleres and the large megascleres of Quepanetsal, which are microspined 

 near the ends. The opinion here is expressed that Quepanetsal and Des- 

 moxya are as far apart as two genera can be and still belong in the same 

 family. Quepanetsal has no microscleres at all. 



The generic name is from the Latin phrase meaning "both bread and 

 salt," and is suggested by the appearance and consistency of this sponge. 



Quepanetsal madidus, new 



Text Figure No. 119 



This species is here represented by the following: 

 U.S.N.M. No. 22976, My No. M. 352, here designated as type, collected 

 July 5, 1949, by diver from the Pearl Pool in the western portion of the 

 lagoon at Ebon Atoll. The depth was 3 meters, and the substrate was 

 dead coral. 



This species grew indefinitely in all directions in the interstices of a mass 

 of dead, bush-shaped coral. Fragments of sponge tissue as large as 3 cm 

 diameter could be extracted with some difficulty. 



The ectosome and endosome color in life was almost white, and the 

 consistency was very soft and crumbling like wet bread. 



Text Figure No. 119. Spicules of Quepanetsal madidus, X 782. A: Oxea with micro- 

 spined ends; the entire spicule is shown, but in two parts. B: Strongyle; the entire 

 spicule is shown, but in two parts. 



