220 UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 251 



114. Culeolus easteri, new species 



Figure 100 



HoLOTYPE.— USNM 11769: Off Marquesas Islands; 0°50'00'' N., 

 137°54'00" W.; 2,463 fathoms, gray yellow GloUgerina ooze. Alba- 

 tross sta. 3684, September 10, 1899. 



Description. — The holotype is a single specimen from off the Mar- 

 quesas Islands, 15 mm. in length. Body ellipsoidal, attached to sub- 

 stratum by a slender stalk 53 mm. long, 0.6-0.7 nma. in diameter. 

 Surface of stalk marked with 13 longitudinal ridges (fig, 100<:Z). 

 Branchial aperture distinctly 4-lobed, located slightly dorsal to inser- 

 tion point of stalk at anterior end of body. Atrial aperture a slitlike 

 opening on dorsal side at level of approximately a quarter of the body 

 length from the posterior end of the body. Test yellowish brown, 

 leathery, rather thin, section and imier surface whitish. Surface en- 

 tirely covered with many minute prominences, also two transverse rows 

 of comparatively large conical prominences, one at level of branchial 

 aperture, other at middle of range between apertures and confined 

 to dorsal half of body; consists of about 20 prominences which dimin- 

 ish in size ventrally. Terminal of inserted stalk reaches near level 

 of posterior margin of branchial aperture. Mantle extremely thin, 

 with rather sparse longitudinal and transverse muscles. 



As the specimen was already cut open by Dr. de Laubenfels when it 

 was sent to him for identification as a sponge-like organism, the 

 internal organs were so torn that an accurate description of the 

 branchial sac can hardly be given here. Probably five plications on 

 each side. Arrangement of the inner longitudinal vessels on left 

 side seems to be ( D = dorsal, V= ventral ) . 



D (8) 1 (5) 2 (7) 2 (6) 1 (4) 2 V 

 Wall of branchial sac shows a kind of meshwork consisting of longi- 

 tudinal and transverse vessels but being devoid of true stigma. 

 Ciliated groove a crescent. Tentacles 21, larger and smaller ones 

 differentiated; only branches of first order are seen and are rather 

 few. No spicules found in any vessels. Dorsal lamina represented 

 by series of dorsal languets. Intestinal loop situated in posterior half 

 of body, second loop practically indiscernible. Anal margin cut into 

 about 10 lobules. Two gonads on each side, posterior gonad a single 

 mass, while anterior one consists of two genital capsules. On left 

 side, posterior gonad found in intestinal loop, but anterior one 

 situated in anterior half of body outside intestinal loop. 



Remarks. — Of the Pacific species of Culeolus^ O. herdmani Sluiter 

 and C. quadrula Sluiter differ distinctly from the present new species 

 in the situation of the inserted part of the stalk, in the arrangement of 

 rows of large conical prominences on the body surface, and also in 

 the structure and arrangement of two gonads on each side. C. 



