192 THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 



This sponge was greenish black in life and not so liberally provided with 

 colloidal material. 



The specific name refers to the very soft structure of this species from 

 Truk. 



GENUS PRIANOS Gray 

 Prianos phlox, new 



Text Figure No 129 



This species is here represented by the following : 



U.S.N.M. No. 22936, My No. M. 306, here designated as type, collected 

 June 11, 1949, by hand while wading at Ailing-lap-lap Atoll in the south- 

 ern portion of the lagoon near Bikajela Islet. The depth was about 30 cm, 

 and the substrate was dead coral. 



U.S.N.M. No. 22836, My No. M. 119, collected June 28, 1949, by diver, at 

 Majuro Atoll from the north side of the lagoon near Enemanok Islet. 

 The depth was 2 meters, and the substrate was the under side of an 

 upside-down enameled dinner plate. The specimen is atypical and may be 

 juvenile, but is here placed with others of this species. 



U.S.N.M. No. 22866, My No. M. 160, collected July 11, 1949, by diver, at 

 Likiep Atoll in the southeast corner of the lagoon near the church. The 

 depth was 3 meters, and the substrate was dead coral. 



This species is probably rather common throughout the Marshall Islands ; 

 but, being very small, most of the specimens are overlooked or found impos- 

 sible to collect. 



The shape is incrusting, and the size quite small. Some of the crusts are 

 as much as 2 mm thick and show indefinite lateral growth, but specimens the 

 size of a coin are the rule. 



The color in life was bright orange, and the consistency was soft, some- 

 what slimy. 



The surface is usually smooth, though here and there a few regions may 

 be a little bit lumpy. It is quite lipostomous. 



The ectosome is characterized by a thin fleshy dermis, and the interior 

 chiefly by spicules in confusion. There is, however, a very loose, open, ir- 

 regular reticulation of vague tracts, usually not more than two spicules per 

 cross section, connected to one another by a small quantity of what may be 

 spongin. 



The skeleton consists exclusively of strongyles. Some juvenile spicules 

 may be mistaken for oxeas, but are probably just developmental forms. These 

 spicules reach a size of 7 /a by 470 fi, but smaller ones of all sizes are fairly 

 common. 



Text Figure No. 129. Spicule (strongyle) of Prianos phlox, X 182. 



