66 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 72 



5. sceptroides Haswell a typical specimen in the collection of the AusM, 

 Reg. no. Z 2837; Merrika R., near Womboyne, N.S.W.; coll. F. Hersey, 



6. iii. 1958; growing on upper side of rock in about 2 feet of water, 

 originally forming a large cushion, 460 x 200 mm., and about 11 mm. 

 in thickness. 



The reexamination of *S'. multispinifera Gee has demonstrated 

 beyond doubt that the supposedly characteristic structure and arrange- 

 ment of spines on its megascleres and gemmoscleres represent ecomor- 

 phic malformations, which can often be observed ^^'ithin the morpho- 

 metric range of R. sceptroides. Gee would certainly have come to the 

 same conclusion had he been able to compare his "new species" with 

 the true S. sceptroides, then unknown to him. 



The specific identity of S. philippinensis still poses some problems, 

 since its spicular components, while readily comparable with those of 

 the specimen in the collection of the USNM described by Annandale 

 (1909h) as S. sceptroides, differ in many regards from the scleres of 

 Haswell's species. The megascleres of S. philippinensis are much 

 stouter, altogether smooth or differently spined, and the gemmoscleres 

 are considerably longer and produce burlike aggregations of terminal 

 spines, and more numerous spines along their shafts. In all these fea- 

 tures it closely resembles another abundant Australian species of this 

 genus, which will be described in a forthcoming paper. It is therefore 

 advisable to retain S. philippinensis as a dubious synonym of R. 

 sceptroides, until further comparative studies are possible. 



The erection of S. rotoitiensis from New Zealand by Schroder (1935) 

 also appears to have been aided by the previous misconceptions of S. 

 sceptroides. The examination of Schroder's species proved clearly that 

 the sponge from New Zealand is identical with the true S. sceptroides 

 in all respects, and that its separate status, even on a subspecific level, 

 is fully unwarranted. 



Radiospongtlla crateriformis (Pottg, 1882) 



Plate 5, figures 1-3; Plate 6, figures 1, 2 



Meyenia crateriformis Potts, lSS2a, p. 12; 18S7, p. 228. — Kellicott, 1897, p. 50. — 

 Eshleman, 1950, p. 40.— Wurtz, 1950, p. 5.— Moore, 1951, p. 63.— Penney, 

 1954, p. 156; 1956, p. 38; 1960, p. 47. 



Ephydaf/ia crateriformis Weltner, 1895, p. 114. — Girod, 1899, p. 111. — Annandale, 

 1909d, p. 402.— Smith, 1921, p. 17.— Gee, 1928, p. 225; 1930e, p. 27; 1930b, 

 p. 170; 1930f, p. 87; 1931e, p. 36; 1932d, p. 53; 1932f, p. 507.— Arndt, 1932c, 

 p. 556; 1933a, p. 24.— Old, 19.32c, p. 239; 1932a, p. 131; 1932b, p. 470; 

 1936a, p. 29; 1936b, p. 11.— Sasaki, 1936, p. 12.— Jewell, 1939, p. 11.— 

 Rioja, 1940a, p. 187. 



Spongilla crateriformis Annandale, 1911c, p. 85; 1912d, p. 384; 1918a, p. 211. — 

 Vorstman, 1927, p. 183.— Gee, 1929d, p. 297. 



fSpongilla crateriformis var. insularis Annandale, 1911c, p. 85 (footnote). 



fEphydatia crateriformis var. arndti Carvalho, 1942, p. 267. 



