PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. V, July, 1951 
268^ 
living colloidal material. In this species (and 
genus) there is a relatively large quantity of 
this, and here it is in a fairly stiff gel condi- 
tion. The ordinary methods of search reveal 
no inorganic skeleton — that is to say, no 
spicules at all. Exceedingly rare spicules may 
be present, but this is surmise. 
This species was first described as Chon- 
drosia collectrix by Lendenfeld (1888: 74) from 
Australia, its only previous locality record. 
There was already a different Chondrosia 
collectrix, that of Schmidt (1870: 25). There- 
fore de Laubenfels (1936: 184) set up the new 
name chucalla for Lendenfeld’s species. 
Leuconia katana new species 
Fig. 18 
The type specimen of this species is U. S. 
National Museum, Register Number 22776 
(My No. H. 86). This was collected in 
August, 1945 , by R. W. Hiatt (His No. Ill 
870) at Halape. This species was found 
abundantly on coral about 2 meters deep on 
the outer, surf-pounded slope of the small 
island of Keaoi. This, or a similar Leuconia, 
is widespread in the Hawaiian region. I have 
found it also at Pearl Harbor, Oahu. 
This species is hollow — that is to say, it 
possesses a relatively large cloaca. The shape 
is very roughly cylindrical, larger in the 
middle than at the ends, but the cylindrical 
shape is further modified by the occurrence 
of small, short branches. A total height of at 
least 3 cm. is reached and a diameter of 
8 mm.; the walls are almost 1 to 2 mm. thick. 
The cloaca penetrates nearly the entire length 
of the sponge. 
The color is whitish and the consistency 
fragile. The surface is hispid, but there is no 
coronal fringe around the oscules. The latter 
are about 2 mm. in diameter. 
The ectosome contains many tangent rays 
of polyactinal spicules. The endosome has an 
architecture perhaps to be termed rhagon, but 
almost that which has been termed sylleibid. 
In the latter, the flagellate chambers are con- 
centrated in clusters, but the clusters are 
A 
Fig. 18 . Leuconia kaiana: spicules, from camera 
lucida drawings. A, Oxea; B, regular triaxon of the 
chamber layer; C, sagittal triaxon, from subdermal 
area, and oscular region; D, tetraxon from lining of 
cloaca — the curved ray projects into the cloaca; 
E, smaller triaxon; F, microxea. (The scale shows 100 
microns by tens.) 
rather distinct from each other. 
The skeleton includes oxeas 25 by 750 /x, 
perpendicular to the surface, and partially 
protruding so that they render it hispid. The 
spicules of the chamber layer are chiefly 
regular triaxons with rays about 35 by 300 /x- 
Many sagittal triaxons with their clads near 
the surface and parallel to it also occur. The 
clads are about 20 by 200 /x; the rhabds 
penetrate the chamber layer perpendicular to 
the surface and are about 20 by 300 ix. Many 
tetraxons line the cloaca, two medium-sized 
rays tangentially placed in its lining, a small 
bent ray protruding into the cloaca, and a 
longer ray piercing the chamber layer, per- 
pendicular to the cloacal surface. The latter 
ray is about 25 by 225 fi; the paired rays are 
about 25 by 175 /x in dimensions. Many small, 
regular triaxons are present, especially near 
the inner and outer surfaces. Their rays are 
about 10 by 100 ju. Microxeas also occur, 
only 1 by 90 ix. 
The species is probably closest to that 
Leuconia which was first described as Leu- 
candra taylori by Lambe (1900: 261) from 
Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The 
smaller triaxons of Lambe’s species had 
rounded (strongylote) ends, and it did have 
a coronal fringe around the oscules. Both 
taylori and kaiana seem related to the com- 
