OKLAHOMA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 23 



XI. IDENTIFICATION ON FRESH WATER SPONGES IN 



THE OKLAHOMA FAUNA 



M. M. Wickham 



From the Zoological Laboratory of the University of Oklahoma. 

 Contribution No. 14, Second Series. 



While searching for fresh water hydra, (Hydra fusca) in 

 Shuler's Lake, Durant, Bryan County, Oklahoma, December 9, 

 1921, in company with students in field zoology, we removed a 

 water-logged timber and found a number of coe'.enterates. Some 

 dozen or more of the contracted hydra had been removed from the 

 slimy surface of the timber with a penknife when I discovered 

 several small cushion-like bodies hardly so large as English peas, — 

 and recognized them to be fresh water sponges. 



Since fresh water sponges are rare in Oklahoma, we carefully 

 removed as m.any sjDecimens as could be found, and isolated them 

 in a bottle with pond water, for microscopic study and verification. 

 Some dozen sponges were taken, ranging in size from that of 

 a penny in circumference to a pin head- 

 In color, they were grayish, with a suggestion of brown ; gray 

 being the predominant color. It was easy to make out the 

 osteoles, as now and then in the undisturbed specimens particles 

 could be seen emerging from the excurrent orifices. When the 

 laboratory was reached, no time was lost in making a test smear 

 for the study of spicules, and other structures. The first slide 

 revealed the monaxon spicules, and the parenchyma of living 

 tissue. The spicules, alone, supported and confirmed the field 

 identification. 



Specimens were then transferred to small aquaria, and their 

 liehavior observed. Carmine particles introduced into the water 

 were taken in at the incurrent pores, and later expelled through 

 the excurrent osteoles. 



Since no histological facilities were at hand, materia;l was pre- 

 pared for the Saint Louis Biological Laboratories, from which 

 prepared slides were to be made. Unfortunately this material was 

 lost. Subsequent searches of these waters have not yet revealed 

 additional specimens. Due to these facts and the scarcity of 

 material, a final determination is not now possible. 



Tentatively, however, the writer proposes the following classi- 

 fication, leaving its ultimate taxonomic assignment to rediscovery 

 and histological study. 



Branch :Porifera 



Order 3 : Monaxonida 



Sub-Order 1 : Halichondrina * 



