68 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 272 



of his Spongilla hemephydatia from New Guinea with R. crateriformis 

 are only two examples of obvious taxonomic difficulties. 



Furthermore, the discontinuous distribution of R. crateriformis is 

 bound to increase speciation trends in distant populations, a phe- 

 nomenon which has not been given full attention. Although the gen- 

 eral characteristics of North American specimens are in full accordance 

 with those from Asian localities and all these specimens display 

 considerable variations of their spicular components, it is possible 

 that future more detailed studies will be able to establish clear-cut 

 races of subspecific importance. Until such additional data become 

 available, it is advisable to consider the various ecomorphic forms of 

 R. crateriformis within the morphometric range of this species as 

 known today. 



However, the former variety of Ephydatia crateriformis cantonensis 

 has been elevated to full specific rank, since it possesses a number of 

 sufficiently distinctive criteria for its clear separation from the nom- 

 inal species. 



Radiospongilla indica (Annandale, 1907) 



Plate 6, figures 4-10 



Ephydatia indica Annandale, 1907c, p. 20; 1907, p. 272; 1909d, p. 402.— Gee, 



1931e, p. 40. 

 Spongilla crateriformis Annandale, 1911c, p. 83. 

 Ephydatia crateriformis Gee, 1932e, p. 533. 

 ? Ephydatia fluviatilis var. ramsayi Annandale, 1909c, p. 421. 



MATERiAL.-^Specimens on 26 slides from India (IM), Indonesia 

 (AmstM), and New Guinea (AAR). 



Description. — Sponge, according to previous descriptions, form- 

 ing flat cushions of moderate size; surface smooth and even, oscula 

 inconspicuous; dermal membrane apparently well developed. Skeleton 

 consisting of irregular spicule fibers, joined together by a small amount 

 of spongin. Consistency of live sponge soft, texture loose. 



Megascleres subcylindrical and comparatively long amphistrongyla, 

 rarely amphioxea; usually with bulbous terminal swelling, rarely with 

 lanceolate tips; scleres armed with acute though scattered spines in 

 their central portion, and with a more dense arrangement of rather 

 blunt spines on the terminal expansions; length range 230-360 n, 

 width range in center 9-13 p.. 



Microscleres absent. 



Gemmoscleres slender amphistrongyla with slightly curved or 

 almost straight shafts which bear a variable number of small conical 

 spines, and terminally with several rows of larger straight spines, the 

 distal of which form comparatively fiat pseudorotules; length range 

 60-72 fi, width of shaft 3-4 n, diameter of pseudorotule about 8 p.. 



