THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 



215 



Text Figure No. 146. Spicule of Cryptax orygmi. A: Tylostrongyle, X 182. B: Head 

 of one of the tylostrongyles, X 782. C: Point of one of the tylostrongyles, X 782. 



July 2, 1949, at Majuro Atoll from the southeast portion of the lagoon 

 near Te-elop Island. The depth was 2 meters, and the substrate was dead 

 coral. 



This sponge occurred completely buried in various bits of coral in the 

 vicinity in caverns often about 4 mm in diameter, but varying from there on 

 down to microscopic size. Most of the surface overlying this sponge was 

 covered by continuous layers of Spirastrella, as represented by Specimen No. 

 M. 339. 



The color in life was yellow, slightly ochraceous, and the consistency was 

 soft. 



The surface, pores and oscules cannot be discerned, because of the 

 peculiar buried location of this sponge. 



The ectosome and endosome also, for the same reason, are not readily 

 distinguishable. The spicules seem to be arranged chiefly in confusion within 

 the narrow confines of the flesh. 



The skeleton consists of tylostrongyles, larger in the middle than the 

 diameter of the tylote swelling which occurs at one end. Typical sizes of 

 these may be given as 2 /* by 600 p., 7 n by 700 /x, 12 fi by 700 fx. 



The specific characteristics are embodied in the foregoing discussion of 

 the new genus. 



The species name here selected is derived from a Greek word meaning 

 "of the excavation." 



FAMILY CLIONIDAE Gray 



GENUS CLIONA, Grant 



Cliona lobata, Hancock 



Text Figure No. 147 



This species is here represented by the following : 

 U.S.N.M. No. 23075, My No. M. 455, collected August 10, 1949, by a diver 



at the west side of Moen Islet in Truk Lagoon from a substrate of dead 



coral, 2 meters deep. 

 U.S.N.M. No. 23004, My No. M. 383, collected July 11, 1949, by diver near 



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



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



