1128 A MONOGRAPH OF THE AUSTRALIAN SPONGES, 



42. SPECIES. LEUCANDRA MEANDRINA. Nov. spec. 



A solitary cylindrical and tube-shaped Sponge attaining a 

 length of 120 and a diameter of 25mm. The dermal surface is 

 smooth, without projecting spicule rays, the Gastral surface and 

 also that of the larger exhalent canals appears hairy or velvet- 

 like. The outer surface is very uneven, and has the appearance 

 of a surface with an intricate meander-like sculpture on it, in high 

 relief. The Gastral cavity is cylindrical and the thickness of the 

 body wall is very different in different parts in consequence of 

 the above-mentioned surface-sculpture. The canal system is 

 rather peculiar : there are no lacunose extensions of the inhalent 

 canals, no subdermal cavities. In the Gastral part of the body 

 wall we meet with very regular longitudinal canals of an oval 

 transverse section. The short axis of the Ellipse is situated 

 radially. The thickness of the body wall is 1-8 — 2.1 mm., the 

 Gastral cavity is accordingly very large. The longitudinal 

 canals measure on an average 0*7 x T2 mm. These exhalent 

 wide collecting canals open separately into the Gastral cavity, 

 without forming anastomoses or lacunes. The remarkable 

 gastric quadriradiate spicules clothe these canals in the same 

 way as the Gastral cavity itself, so that they make rather the 

 impression of branches of a ramified Gastral cavity than of 

 exhalent canals. 



Spicules : The skeleton consists of gastric quadriradiate spicules 

 with a very elongated, protruding centripetal ray, Parenchymal 

 triradiates of two kinds and Parenchymal, radially situated and 

 slightly protruding large acerate spicules. The gastric quadri- 

 radiates are sagittal and regular. The centripetal ray measures 

 from 0*07 to - 28 mm. in length, the longer ones are predominating 

 with a very constant basal thickness of 0-005 mm. The tangental 

 rays lie in one plane which is vertical to the centripetal ray. 

 Their rays are equal and also the angles, like the centripetal ray 

 quite straight or slightly and irregularly curved at the distal end. 

 They measure 018 x 0-005 mm. All rays are cylindrical and 

 pointed. The Triradiates of the Parenchyma are regular or 

 slightly irregular, never sagittal and stout or slender. The stout 



