BY R. VON* LENDENFELD, PH.D. 1117 



31. SPECIES. LEUCETTA MICRORHAPHIS. Von Lendenfeld. 

 LEUCETTA PRIMIGEXIA var. MICRORHAPHIS. Haeckel(l.) 

 LEUCETTA PRIMIGEXIA var. MICRORHAPHIS. Ridley (2.) 



Both surfaces smooth._ Triradiates regular. Rays straight, 

 pointed. Numerous small spicules measuring 0-742 x - 011, and 

 rarer large ones of a similar shape measuring 0-8 x 0*085, very 

 rare spicules of an intermediate size are also met with. I have 

 many specimens of Haeckel's Leucetta primigenia, they are all 

 slightly ramified ; 3-6 cylindrical pieces with uneven surface 

 grown together and meeting at sharp angles. These cylinders 

 taper towards the dermal osculum and attain a length of 25 and 

 a diameter of 8 mm. The gastral cavity is large. The body 

 wall not exceeding 2 mm. in thickness. 



The inhalent pores are covered by a thin perforated membrane 

 as in other Sponges (Aplysillidaj) and lead into wide bulbous 

 extensions from the proximal end of which the inhalent canals 

 take their origin. A great number of Canals radiate from each 

 subdermal lacune. The latter have a diameter of 0'12 mm. In the 

 surface the small spicules are situated very regularly and tangen- 

 tally disposed in such a manner that they form a network with 

 hexagonal meshes. The pores are situated in the meshes, but 

 there is not a pore to each mesh. 



The spiculation of all these specimens is the same — as above — 

 corresponding to Haeckels var. microhaphis of Leucetta primi- 

 genia. Ridley (I.e.) has obtained the same sponge from Torres 

 Straits. The similarity in the structure of my specimen led me 

 to assume that this variety of Haeckels should be considered as a 

 species. 



Locality : Australia 1 Haeckel ; North Coast of Australia, Torres 

 Straits. Alert ; East Coast of Australia, Port Jackson, Von 

 Lendenfeld ; South Coast of Australia, Port Phiilip V. Lendenfeld. 



(1.) E. Haeckel. L.c. Band II., Seite 119; Band III., Taf. 21. 

 Figs. 10-17. 



(2. ) Stuart O. Ridley. Report on the Sponges. Report on the Zoological 

 Collections made in the Indian and Pacific Ocean, during the Voyage of 

 H.M.S. Alert, 1881-82. British Museum Catalogue, 1SS4, p. 482. 



