2 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 272 



Nathaniel Gist Gee was the first investigator to realize that only a 

 renewed thorough study of all types and syntypes ever deposited 

 and a detailed examination of all genera and species would help in 

 cutting this Gordian knot of taxonomic chaos. Abeady in possession 

 of a huge collection of freshwater sponges from China and other parts 

 of southeastern Asia, Gee began with systematic collections of data 

 pertaining to almost all spongillids of the world and secured type or 

 syntype material of a great number of species. However, his untimely 

 death brought this promising project to a standstill. His giant collec- 

 tion and comprehensive catalog of species, now in the possession of 

 the Smithsonian Institution, remain mute witnesses of his untiring 

 efforts. 



In the mid-fifties another American spongillid investigator, James 

 T. Penney, decided that a thorough revision of all genera and species 

 of freshwater sponges could no longer be delayed. His systematic 

 efforts in securing and studying all the existing type species, his 

 tenacity in requesting and obtaining spongillid material from all major 

 and minor institutions of the world, and finally his discovery of Gee's 

 giant though untapped collection in the Smithsonian Institution, all 

 resulted in the accumulation of data unavailable to any previous 

 investigator. In view of this ever increasing information, Penney 

 faced various difficulties in dealing with all genera simultaneously, 

 and finally decided to approach this problem by a revision of natural 

 groups of genera. His first choice was the Meyeninae, a former sub- 

 family comprising all species with birotulate gemmoscleres, for 

 which he outlined the necessary data for subsequent publication. 

 Unfortunately, Penney's sudden death in 1964 once again halted the 

 progress of spongillid taxonomy, and his comprehensive and untiring 

 efforts seemed to have been made in vain. 



Realizing the great importance of Penney's huge collection of 

 material and unpublished data, upon the recommendation of Dr. 

 B. Theodore Cole, the University of South Carolina finally en- 

 trusted the writer of this paper with its study and review. Begin- 

 ning in August 1965, tliis task consisted of the examination of 

 several thousands of slides, their comparison with existing type 

 or syntype specimens, their correlation with various handwritten 

 notes and photographs by the late author, and finally, to attempt 

 a thoroughly revised taxonomic system. In view of the volumi- 

 nous material available, the writer considered it imperative to revise 

 aU true gemmule-producing species, instead of merely elaborat- 

 ing Penney's outlined account of the Meyeninae. As the result of 

 these additional studies, it was possible to review the status of 18 

 genera, including 95 fully revised species, and to demonstrate the 

 fallacy of a subdivision of the family Spongillidae by using gem- 



