REVISION OF FRESHWATER SPONGES OF SPONGILLIDAE 69 



Gemmules relatively small, ranging in diameter 230-350 n, spherical, 

 scattered through the skeletal meshes; pneumatic layer well developed 

 and thick, consisting of minute UTegular air spaces; gemmoscleres 

 embedded in this layer radially, rarely crossing each other at various 

 angles, arranged in a single layer, their distal pseudorotules not 

 projecting beyond outer gemmular membrane; foramen distinctly 

 tubular, porus tube short and straight, smTOunded by a conical 

 depression caused by slanting gemmoscleres in its vicinity. 



Distribution. — Ranging from India (type locality) to Indonesia 

 and the Philippines, probably also present in New Guinea. 



Color in life. — Recorded as "colorless" even when exposed to 

 light. 



Discussion. — The possession of amphistrongylous megascleres, 

 which display most typical bulbous aggregations of terminal blunt 

 spines, as well as the structure of the pseudorotules on the gem- 

 moscleres, make this species clearly distinguishable from U. crateri- 

 formis. The question whether the existing spicular differences of 

 R. indica are to be considered of specific or subspecific importance 

 can only be answered by future studies of a large range of additional 

 material of both these spongiUids. For the present, it seems advisable 

 not to obscure perceptible taxonomic evidence by relegating the 

 species discussed to a synonym of R. crateriformis , therefore the 

 separate specific status of R. indica is herewith restored. 



The megascleres of R. indica from all localities on the Indo-Pakistani 

 subcontinent are amphistrongyla with distinct terminal bulbous 

 swellings, while those from Indonesia merely bear terminal aggrega- 

 tions of spines or attain lanceolate spiny tips. The gemmoscleres of 

 both these morphometric forms, however, are fidly comparable. 



Radiospongilla hemephydatia (Annandale, 1909) 



Plate 5, figures 7-10 



Spongilla hemephydatia Annandale, 1909g, p. 275; 1911c, p. 82; 1918a, p. 211. — 

 ?Arndt, 1930a, p. 5.— Gee, 1931e, p. 39; 1932c, p. 38.— Penney, 1960, p. 19. 



Material. — Slides of syntype (N. Gist Gee and AusM) ; specimen 

 from New South Wales, Australia. 



Description. — Sponge, according to previous descriptions, forming 

 flat cushions of small size on aquatic plants; surface smooth and even, 

 oscula inconspicuous. Skeleton consisting of irregular spicule fibers, 

 joined together by a very small amount of spongin. Consistency of 

 live sponge very soft and fragile. 



Megascleres slender and distinctly fusiform, sharply pointed 

 amphioxea, either entirely smooth or covered with a small number of 

 inconspicuous spinules in their central portion; length range 290- 

 330 n, width range 9-12 /i. 



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