THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 201 



species which have been referred to this genus, having massive or ramose 

 forms, should eventually be transferred to other genera, for example to 

 Anthosigmella, but revision of the whole group of Spirastrella is not under- 

 taken here. 



GENUS ANTHOSIGMELLA Topsent 

 Anthosigmella vagabimda, Ridley 



Text Figure No. 136 

 Plate IX, Figure b 



This species is here represented by the following: 



U.S.N.M. No. 22968, My No. M. 344, collected July 5, 1949, by hand while 

 wading in the Pearl Pool in the western portion of the lagoon at Ebon 

 Atoll. The depth was just below low tide, and the substrate was coral 

 sand. 



U.S.N.M. No. 23017, My No. M. 397, collected July 13, 1949, by diver at 

 Likiep Atoll near the south side of the lagoon in the vicinity of Eotli Islet. 

 The depth was 5 meters, and the substrate was coral sand. 



U.S.N.M. No. 23038, My No. M. 417, collected July 30, 1949, by diver in 

 northwest Ponape in the lagoon near the shore. The depth was 2 meters, 

 and the substrate was small fragments of dead coral. 



U.S.N.M. No. 23057, My No. M. 437, collected August 1, 1949, by hand while 

 wading in eastern Ponape (Matalanim) near Nanmatal Island. The depth 

 was very shallow, so that at low tide specimens often protruded from the 

 water. The substrate was coral sand and "turtle grass." 



U.S.N.M. No. 23079, My No. M. 461, collected August 13, 1949, by hand 

 while wading in the western portion of Truk lagoon south of Polle 

 Islet. The depth was about 30 cm, and the substrate was coral sand. 



U.S.N.M. No. 23105, My No. M. 487, collected September 1, 1949, by divers 

 in Iwayama Bay near Koror in the Palaus. The depth was 2 meters, and 

 the substrate was small fragments of dead coral. 



U.S.N.M. No. 22913, My No. M. 218, collected September 1, 1949, by diver 

 in Iwayama Bay near Koror in the Palaus, from muddy water discolored 

 by plant material and near mangroves. The depth was 2 meters, and the 

 substrate was mixed mud and coral sand. 



U.S.N.M. No. 22807, My No. N. 013, collected on June 5, 1946, by dredging 

 at Eniwetok Atoll near the center of the lagoon, 8 kilometers north of 

 the south anchorage. The depth was 35 meters. The collector was 

 W. R. Taylor. This specimen is atypical and appears to be stunted. 



This species probably has always a basal ramifying mass, which is often 

 buried under sand or muddy sand. From this, conspicuous and numerous 

 cylindrical or conical projections arise. These are often 2 or 3 cm in diameter 

 and may be as much as 12 cm high. On Truk and also at Koror a few speci- 



