14 SIR C. ELIOT 
SPONGIOBRANCHAEA AUSTRALIS, D’Orb. 
See especially Pelseneer, ‘Challenger’ Report LVIII., pp. 18-20 ; Meisenheimer, ‘ Valdivia,’ pp. 47-49 ; 
id., Siidpolar Exped., pp. 99-101. 
One specimen labelled “ Winter Quarters, 19. 11. 08. Mosquito net, 10 fathoms.” 
Four others labelled “21. 11.’01. Lat. 55° 31’ S., Long. 156° 19’ KE. ; 15 fathoms.” 
These localities support the idea that the species is circumpolar. 
A large elongated specimen is about 30 mm. long and 8 mm. broad, another of 
about the same volume is contracted and stouter, measuring 22 mm. in length and 11 
in breadth. The colour of the body is violet, grey or brown, with ill-defined bands of 
lighter colour round the median constriction and the posterior gill. The buccal parts 
and the appendages which bear the suckers are yellowish white, and contrast strongly 
with the body colour. The foot is bluish with yellow edges, the fins yellowish. 
The lateral gill is hardly visible in any of the specimens. It is at most an 
inconspicuous bladder-like projection which interrupts the median constriction, and is 
lighter than the surrounding parts. The posterior gill is distinct and well-developed. 
The median lobe of the foot is long and tapering, the side lobes are small, and the space 
between them bears a few deep furrows. The parts behind the head, including the fins, 
are much contracted, but in the only specimen where the fins can be seen they appear 
to be about 6 mm. long, and broader, and more deeply lobed than previous authors 
have described. 
The buccal parts are everted in one specimen. The large proboscis bears a papilla 
as described by Pelseneer, and at its base are two large and distinct tentacular flaps. 
Each of the acetabuliferous appendages bears 8 stalked suckers, which increase in size 
upwards. The two lowest are very small; the upper ones are about 1 mm. wide. Just 
before the radula is the jaw, which appears to be a collection of small straight spines or 
teeth. At the sides of the radula are two small short hook-sacks, filled with hooks of 
various shapes. The formula of the radula is about 26 x 8. 1. 8, and the teeth are as 
in Pelseneer’s plates. The median tooth is tricuspid. The laterals are longish, slender, 
and curved at the tips. The first lateral bears a denticle on the inner side of the base 
which is not found in the others. 
Winter Quarters appears to be the furthest southern record of Sp. australis, which 
is probably circumpolar, since it is now recorded from Long. 60° W., and Long. 5° E. 
to Long. 30° E, Long. 54° E. and Long. 167° E. It is recorded from as far north as 
Lat. 35° §. 
