184 THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 



A 



Text Figure No. 122. Spicules of Ciocalapata sacciformis, X 182. A: Oxea. B: Style. 



The surface is level and punctiform with obvious skeletal pores, 300 fi 

 in diameter, about one for each square mm. These in turn are covered with 

 a thin membrane, which is pierced by about 4, 5, or 6 real pores, the latter 

 being 60 /x to 80 p. in diameter. The exhalant openings could not be differ- 

 entiated from the similar inhalant openings in this case. 



The ectosome is characterized by relatively enormous subdermal spaces 

 with a roof held up above them by fascicular columns. This space is often 

 as much as 500 ju, high. Its roof, often more than 100 /x thick, is abundantly 

 provided with tangental spicules and fleshy structures. The endosome is 

 crumb-of-bread type with many gross cavities, spicules in confusion, and 

 very little protoplasm. 



The skeleton has been described above to some extent, but comment 

 should be made on the further existence of vague spicule-filled tracts, about 

 100 n in diameter. The spicules include oxeas of great size range, some as 

 large as 21 /x by 800 \x, and styles also varying greatly in size, some as large 

 as 6 ix by 220 /x. Both sorts occur commonly in the dermis, and both sorts 

 occur commonly in the interior of the sponge. 



Thiele, 1900, page 76, described Ciocalypta sacciformis from the East 

 Indian region, and de Laubenfels, 1936, page 134, transferred this to Cio- 

 calapata. The species was recorded further by Hentschel, 1912, page 425, 

 also from the East Indian region. It is probably a common species. Most 

 of the other specimens in the literature are described as sac-like or hollow 

 tubes or folded plates. The fact that this specimen from the Palaus is an 

 irregular mass may be due to environmental conditions. In view of this like- 

 lihood, it is not thought worthy of specific separation because of its shape. 



FAMILY SEMISUBERITIDAE de Laubenfels 



GENUS RHAPHISIA Topsent 



Rhaphisia hispida, new 



Text Figure No. 123 



This species is here represented by the following : 

 U.S.N.M. No. 22879, My No. M. 176, here designated as type, collected 

 July 30, 1949, by diver in the lagoon near the shore at northwest Ponape. 

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



This is a very thin incrustation. Its thickness is 3 mm plus the hispidat- 

 ing spicules. The diameter is about 15 cm. 



