24 PERCY SLADEN TRUST EXPEDITION 
12. Leucandra wasinensis (Jenkin). 
(Plate 2, fig. 5.) 
Leucilla wasinensis Jenkin [1908]. 
A single small specimen (Plate 2, fig. 5), which agrees so closely with the description 
given by Jenkin of his Leucilla wasimensis that I have no hesitation in making a specific 
identification, was obtained from Saya de Malha. . 
The specimen is a good deal smaller than that described by Jenkin, but the external 
form calls for no special comment, being that of a typical single Leucon person; the 
peristomial fringe of slender oxea is present, but inconspicuous, owing partly to erosion. 
All the spicule forms described and figured by Jenkin are present and a direct comparison 
with preparations of his sponge shows a close agreement between the two specimens in 
this respect. I find that, in the Wasin specimen, the outer ends of some of the large 
oxea are flattened, lancet-shaped, and this is apparently what Jenkin means by saying 
that they are “snake-headed.” This does not appear to be a constant character, however, 
even in the type; I cannot say whether or not it occurs in the “Sealark” specimen, as the 
outer ends of nearly all the oxea are either broken off or more or less badly eroded. The 
triradiates of the chamber layer are a good deal smaller in the “Sealark” specimen than 
in the type, and this may be true to some extent also of the other spicules; but I do not 
consider that there is any difference of specific value. 
The most remarkable feature of the species is the presence of well-developed, centri- 
petally directed apical rays on many of the radiates of the dermal cortex. Formerly, 
I regarded this character as sufficient reason for the inclusion of a species possessing it in 
the genus Leucilla, and such species as the present certainly seem to show how the 
characteristic subdermal quadriradiates of the Amphoriscidz have arisen, but apical rays 
so often appear on triradiates in all sorts of situations that I no longer regard their 
presence in the dermal cortical radiates as sufficient by itself to justify the exclusion of a 
species from the genus Leucandra. This point has been more fully discussed by Mr Row 
and myself in our revision of the Calcarea. 
Previously known Distribution. Wasin, East Africa (Jenkin). 
Register No., Locality, dc. vit. 7, Saya de Malha, 6.9.05, C. 15, 55 fathoms. 
Family Amphoriscide Dendy (emend.). 
Flagellate chambers ranging from elongated and radially arranged to small, 
spherical and irregularly scattered. With a distinct dermal cortex supported by a 
skeleton of tangentially placed radiates, to which oxea may be added. Some or all of 
the dermal radiates with large apical rays, which project inwards through the chamber 
layer to a greater or less extent and form the principal part of its skeleton. No articulate 
tubar skeleton, but subgastral sagittal radiates may be present and sometimes, in the 
leuconoid forms, a confused skeleton of quadri-radiates in the chamber layer. Nuclei of 
collared cells probably always apical. 
