246 



THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 



Text Figure No. 169. Spicule (amphitriaene) of 

 Samus anonyma, X 782. 



Palaus, the species was again found in a Cliona burrow, but only some of the 

 spicules could be located so that no data is available as to the protoplasmic 

 portion. In fact, the sponge may have died and left only some of the spicules 

 in the burrow. This can be rather confidently identified as Samus anonyma, 

 simply because, up to date, no other species has been found to have similar 

 spicules. Anonyma has been recorded not only from the West Indies but also 

 from the Indian Ocean and Australian regions, and it is probably circum- 

 equatorial. It is doubtless much more common than the published records 

 would seem to indicate. Because of its cryptic location, it tends to be over- 

 looked, and it is remarkable that specimens are ever found. It is doubtful if 

 any sponges of this species are ever much larger than a grain of sand, or a 

 grain of wheat at the most. 



GENUS PLAKORTIS Schulze 

 Plakortis simplex Schulze 



Text Figure No. 170 



This species is here represented by the following : 

 U.S.N.M. No. 22832, My No. M. 108, collected June 20, 1949, by diver at 

 Ailing-lap-lap Atoll in the channel between the lagoon and the ocean 

 east of Bikajela Islet. The depth was 10 meters, and the substrate was 

 dead coral. 



This is an incrusting sponge, about 1 cm in diameter and less than 1 mm 

 thick. 



The color in life was bright rosy lavender on both exterior and interior, 

 and the consistency was soft. 



The surface is smooth, but microscopically roughened. The pores are 

 closed and, therefore, do not show. 



Text Figure No. 170. Spic- 

 ules of Plakortis simplex, 

 X 782. 



