154 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 72 



Acalle recurvata (Bowerbank, 1863) 



Plate 13, figures 6-13 



Spongilla recurvata Bowerbank, 18G3, p. 456. 

 Acalle recurvata Gray, 1867, p. 552. — Penney, 1960, p. 32. 



Tubella recurvata Carter, 1881a, p. 98. — Potts, 1887, p. 250. — Gee, 1931e, p. 47; 

 1932c, p. 43; 1933c, p. 241. 



Material. — Slides of the type (BM) ; slides of material from the 

 Beni R. (BoUvia) (PAS). 



Description. — Sponge according to Bowerbank (1863) and Carter 

 (1881), forming crusts of an even surface; oscula numerous, incon- 

 spicuous, and scattered. Consistency of dry sponge fragile and 

 crumbHng. 



Megascleres cyUndrical, as a rule smooth and feebly curved am- 

 phioxea with rather abruptly pointed or rounded tips, closely ap- 

 proaching amphistrongyla in appearance; sometimes these scleres 

 are sparsely microspined, or bear an aggregation of minute spines on 

 their tips, length range 120-148 jjl, width range 14-16 n. 



Microscleres have not yet been recorded. 



Gemmoscleres typically as discussed in the generic definition; 

 length range of tubeUiform scleres 30-33 /x, width of shaft 1.1-5 /x, 

 diameter of lower rotule 15-16 ii. 



Gemmules with an u-regularly pitted surface, spherical, ranging 

 in diameter 350-420 n; pneumatic coat well developed, distinctly 

 granular; gemmoscleres embedded in two series, as discussed in 

 generic definition; foramen produced into a short straight tubule. 



Distribution. — Known only from the type locahty, the Amazon 

 R. and the Beni R., Bohvia. 



Color in life. — Not yet rehably recorded. 



Discussion. — The reasons for the present retention of Spongilla 

 recurvata Bowerbank in the genus Acalle, erected especially for this 

 species by Gray (1867), were dealt with in the discussion of this 

 genus. Until additional material from South America will be collected 

 and thoroughly studied, it is better to consider this species distinct 

 from all Metania species, to which it doubtlessly is closely related. 



Genus Drulia Gray, 1867, redefined 



Drulia Gray, 1867, p. 552 (part). — Gee, 1931e, p. 31 (part). — De Laubenfels, 



1936, p. 36.— Jewell, 1952, p. 450.— Penney, 1960, p. 39. 

 Parmula Carter, 1881a, p. 99.— Potts, 1887, p. 256.— Weltner, 1895, p. 114.— 



Gravier, 1899, p. 128.— Cordero, 1923, p. 134; 1925, p. 113; 1928, p. 259.— 



Gee, 1931e, p. 33; 1932c, p. 35.— Penney, 1960, p. 54. 



Type species. — Spongilla brownii Bowerbank, 1863. 

 Definition. — Megascleres stout, curved, and almost cylindrical 

 amphioxea, occasionally amphistrongyla, entirely smooth; often of 



