REVISION OF FRESHWATER SPONGES OF SPONGILLIDAE 55 



strate that these two species are identical, such views must remain 

 highly speculative and C. burmanica is therefore provisionally retained 

 as a separate species. 



The retention of the varietal form C. b. bombayensis, merely based 

 on the absence of turret-like oscular elevations, does not, however, 

 appear to be of any taxonomic significance. 



Corvospongilla lapidosa (Annandale, 1908) 



Plate 4, figures 1-3 



Spongilla lapidosa Annandale, 1908a, p. 26. 



Corvospongilla lapidosa Annandale, 1911c, p. 124; 191 2d, p. 384.— Stephens, 

 1919, p. 98.— Gee, 1931e, p. 41; 1932c, p. 27.— Penney, 1960, p. 36. 



Material. — Slides of type (IM). 



Description. — Sponge, according to Annandale (1908), forming 

 flat crusts on solid supports, external surface ^vithout spicidar pro- 

 jections, smooth. Skeleton consisting of well-defined spicule fibers 

 joined together by a considerable amount of spongin. Consistency of 

 live sponge almost stony hard. 



Megascleres stout and slightly curved amphistrongyla, ranging 

 from microspined to entirely smooth; length range 190-230 /x, width 

 range 17-19 m- 



Microscleres represented by microbirotidates with a smooth shaft 

 and terminally with a smaller number of recurved hooks of medium 

 size; average length 22-35 n, diameter of rotules 5-11 n. 



Gemmoscleres sHghtly curved stout amphistrongyla, covered with 

 blunt spines or tubercles except at their extremities, of greatly varying 

 dimensions; length range 33-68 n, width range 8-14 ii. 



Gemmules firmly adhering to substratum, always subspherical to 

 considerably flattened, ranging 600-700 n in diameter; pneumatic 

 coat feebly developed, without discernible air spaces; gemmoscleres 

 present in one or two layers, arranged in a mosaic-like covering of 

 inner gemmular membrane ; foramen produced into small and straight 

 tubule, usually situated laterally. 



Distribution. — India. 



Color in life. — Recorded as black to gray. 



Discussion. — Corvospongilla lapidosa is another species of the 

 C. loricata group that seems separated from its closest congeners on 

 somewhat flimsy evidence, based mainly on its stony consistency. 

 Until additional collections and data become available it is thought 

 advisable to retain its separate specific status in order not to obscure 

 possible taxonomic evidence. The slides of the type available for this 

 study are most certainly insufficient to contemplate a worthwhile 

 revision, and future collections of this and related species are highly 

 desirable. 



