THE MARINE AND FRESH-WATER SPONGES OF 



CALIFORNIA 



By M. W. DE Laxjbenfels 



Pasadena, Calif. 



INTRODUCTION 



The sponges of the western coast of the United States have been 

 very little studied, although they exist in profusion and comprise 

 a large variety of interesting forms. One hundred and one species 

 are discussed in the following pages, and six of these {Polymastia 

 pachyniastia., Hytneniacldon uiigodon, Zygherpe hyaloderma^ Plo- 

 caniia igzo^ Halichoclona gellindra^ and Spongia idia) are described 

 for the first time. In addition, three genera and five varieties are 

 described as new. In order to render this paper of use to those who 

 are not specialists as well as to specialists, all species that I have 

 been able to find in California are described, whether they be new or 

 old. Briefer reference is made to those forms that are to be found 

 only in the literature on the subject. 



California's length of more than 1,400 kilometers exceeds the dis- 

 tance from New York to Florida and that from Denmark to the 

 Mediterranean, and depths of more than 1,500 meters are reached 

 within 20 to 60 kilometers offshore. A great variety of species of 

 sponges is to be expected within such limits. In addition to those 

 treated herein, many species are to be looked for in the deeper waters 

 offshore, as well as other shallow-water forms from the northern 

 part of the State. Most of the present marine biological investiga- 

 rion, however, is being carried on off the central and southern coasts, 

 and it is believed that the species of those waters are herein rather 

 thoroughly covered. 



I have personally searched the intertidal areas rather carefully, 

 have had much dredged material representing the central-California 

 region presented to me by E. F. Ricketts, and have studied the ex- 

 tensive collection dredged off southern California during the years 

 1909 to 1927 by tlie University of Southern California. (See 

 Figure 1 for map of localities mentioned in this report.) 



No. 2927.-PROCEEDINGS U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. VOL. 81, ART. 4. 

 107704—32 1 1 



