ABT. 4 SPONGES OF CALIFORNIA DE LAUBENFELS 85 



TEDANIA TOXICALIS de Lanbenfels 



Tedania toxicalis db Laubbnfbxs, 1930, p. 27. 



Holotype.—U.S.'^M. No. 21492 ; B.M. No. 29.8.22.24. 



Type locality. — Point Pinos, Pacific Grove, Calif., intertidal, 

 July, 1925, collected by me. In 1925 this species was abundant 

 in one place and about a dozen specimens were collected, all within 

 a range of a few square meters. In 1926, only a few specimens were 

 observed at the same place, and at no time have I found any in any 

 other locality. 



This species was found associated with Phyllospadix., growing 

 around the bases of the stems of this seaweed. 



Description. — Shape, massive; a compound of smoothly rounded 

 parts resembling masses of foam or froth. Size, 3 cm high, 5 cm 

 in diameter. Consistency, softly fragile. Color in life, brownish red : 

 l>reserved, very pale drab. Oscules, not readily made out, as the 

 surface has numerous pits, from 1.5 to 3 mm in diameter; some of 

 these may be due to seaweed that grew through the sponge, others 

 but " blind " depres- 

 sions, others oscules, 

 and some of the small- 

 er may be large in- 

 lialent a p e r t u r e s . 

 Pores, not evident. 

 Surface, superficially 

 smooth with numerous 

 cavities as noted above, 



Ectosomal specialization, a dermal membrane; this is fleshy, 

 detachable, about 20,u, thick, and contains tangentially placed 

 tylotes. Endosomal structure, " crumb-of-bread," with numerous 

 cavities about 1 mm in diameter surrounded by spicules tangent to 

 their periphery, and in places vague tracts of spicules. Principal 

 tracts about 30/a in diameter. 



Principal spicules, subtylostyles (fig. 49, B) \ size, 2ii by 100/x 

 to 7/A by 200/i. Ectosomal spicules, tylotes (fig. 49, A)] size, 8/x by 

 200;it to 14/A by 200/^. Microscleres, smooth rhaphides (fig. 49, G) \ 

 size, about %^ by 150/^. 



Remarks. — This is sharply marked off from most species of the 

 genus by the tylote nature of its parenchymal monaxons. It has 

 another striking character, its evident toxic nature, which may or 

 may not be present in other species, as most lack descriptions of their 

 characteristics when freshly collected. If a specimen of it be 

 placed in a bucket with other living sea animals, as for example, 

 fisli, crabs, raollusks, and worms, in an hour or less they are ob- 

 served to die, while in controls lacking the sponge they survive. 



Pkujre 49. — Tedunia tnxicnlis ilo Laiibciifols, X .300 



