158 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 72 



multiple arrangement of the parmuliform gemmoscleres could well 

 be an ecomorphic phenomenon, since even in D. brownii a duplication 

 of the gemmular armatm^e has been observed. In view of the paucity 

 of observations on South American spongiliids, however, D. geayi is 

 here retained as a distinct species untU more material of all Drulia 

 species can be studied in detail. One of Gee's slides (no. 54981) 

 examined dming the present study, and marked "Parmula geayi 

 var.," even seems to share gemmular characters with those of D. 

 batesii, stressing the utmost importance of a future more detailed 

 revision of this genus, 



Drulia cristata (Weltner, 1895) 



Plate 15, figures 5, 6, 9 



Parmula cristata Weltner, 1895, p. 143. — Gee, 1931e, p. 36; 1932c, p. 35. — 

 Penney, 1960, p. 55. 



Material. — Slide of syntype (N. Gist Gee no. 54987). 



Description. — Sponge hemispherical; surface uneven, strongly 

 reticulated, hispid. Skeleton of similar arrangement to that of the 

 foregoing species. Consistency of dry sponge hard and brittle. 



Alegascleres stout and entirely smooth amphistrongyla, occasional 

 abruptly and bluntly pointed amphioxea also present, apparently of 

 only one series; length range 390-430 n, width range 28-37 n. 



Microscleres thin and sharply pointed amphioxea, almost straight 

 or only feebly curved, covered with small spines at their tips and 

 with larger erect spines in their central portion; length range 55-65 m, 

 width range 2-3 n. 



Gemmoscleres typically parmuliform and similar to those of all 

 species previously discussed; their margin as a rule circular, rarely 

 irregular. 



Gemmules apparently not enclosed in a cage of megascleres; 

 pneumatic layer thin, gemmoscleres apparently forming a singular 

 layer only; diameter ranging 340-370 fx; no data available on structure 

 of foramen. 



Distribution. — Known only from the type locality, the Tapajos 

 R., Brazil, 



Color in life. — Not yet observed; dry sponge dark brown. 



Discussion. — This is another insufficiently known species closely 

 allied to the D. brownii group but easily distinguishable from the 

 latter by the presence of distinct amphistrongyla as megascleres. 

 D. cristata is poorly represented in the material available for this 

 study; future collections and subsequent studies are extremely 

 desirable. 



