BY R. VON LENDENFELD, PH.D. 541 



79. SPECIES EUSPONGIA RETICULATA. Nova species. 

 Shape and Size. 



This species presents a very irregular appearance. It consists 

 of irregularly curved and continually anastomosing digitate, and 

 lamellose portions, which combine to form a perfect network. 



The whole structure attains a size of 250 mm. in length and 

 100 mm. in height and width (the largest specimen.) The lamellose 

 and digitate portions have an average thickness of 15 mm., while 

 the interstices between them average a width of 20 mm. 



The apertures, by which these large cavities open on the outer 

 surface of the whole structure are irregular, and generally a little 

 narrower than the internal cavities. 



Surface. 

 The surface of the exposed portions, the outer surface appears 

 conulated. The surface of the caverns in the interior is smooth. 

 As I only possess skeletons of this species, a detailed description 

 cannot be given. 



Rigidity. 



The skeleton of this sponge is hai'd and elastic. A large 

 specimen is compressed by the weight of 1 kilogramm only about 

 5 mm. Small pieces are hardly compressed at all by that weight. 

 Even the weight of 80 kilogramm only compresses the skeleton to 

 half its size. 



Canal System. 



The cavities in the interior can be considered as vestibule 

 spaces, but it appears as if these were secundary vestibules as also 

 in the lamellae themselves, we find indications of lacunse and wide 

 canals, which are very similar to the vestibule cavities in Exispongia 

 irregularis tenuis, described above. 



No indication of the position of the^ Oscula can be found in the 

 skeleton, and also askeletous portions do not appear to exist. There 

 are no grooves in the skeleton. 



The canal system proper, must be composed of very fine canals 

 as the skeleton appears very dense. 



