SPONGIARIA 



85 



H. gossypina Hyatt. Sheepswool sponge (Fig. 144). Form vari- 

 able; surface with numerous projections, between w^iich are the large 

 oscula: Florida and the Bahamas; the most valuable American sponge. 



H. equina Schmidt. Horse sponge; yelloAv sponge; grass sponge; 

 velvet sponge. Body massive, of coarse fibre and with extensive canal 

 system: Mediterranean; West Indies; Florida; much less valuable than 

 the above. 



3. Cacospongia Schmidt. Fi- 

 bres rather coarse and brittle; main 

 fibres distinct from the connecting 

 fibres ; meshes large : several species. 



C. spongeliformis H. V. Wil- 

 son. Body cylindrical, somewhat 

 branching, 25 cm. long, 7 mm. 

 thick; texture solid, with subder- 

 mal cavities; surface covered with 

 minute conical elevations; dermal 

 membrane with numerous shells, 

 sand, etc., imbedded in it: West 

 Indies. 



4. HiRCiNiA Nardo. Form variable, sometimes very lai'ge; charac- 

 teristic filaments present found in no other sponges, which are 3 or 4 

 mm. long, very fine and swollen at the ends: numerous species. 



H. acuta Hyatt. Body 10 cm. high, massive, with several oscula; 

 surface with small protuberances: filaments in many places in bundles; 

 color gray, in life blackish : West Indies. 



"^m^ 



Fig. 144- 



-Hippospongia gossypina 

 (Moore). 



Family 2. APLYSINIDAE. 



Fibres hollow, without foreign inclusions; flagellate chambers small; 

 form various: 4 genera. 



Aplysina Nardo. Form various but usuallj^ digitate; fibres form a 

 close network; surface with protuberances: numerous species. 



A. flagelliformis Carter. Body 10 >m. long, cylindrical, branching, 

 7 mm. in diameter, dark red in color: West Indies. 



Order 4. MYXOSPONGIAE. 

 Sponges without skeleton of any kind : 2 families. 



Family HALISARCIDAE. 



Slime sponges. Body incrusting and soft, with elongate, sac-like 

 flagellate chambers: 3 genera. 



