20 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. IV, January, 1950 
The genus lotrochota may be regarded as 
a sort of nomenclatorial parent for all the 
marine Demospongiae having amphidiscs. 
Such spicules are common in the fresh water 
sponges (subfamily Meyeniinae) and in the 
order Amphidiscophora of the Hyalospon- 
giae. As more and more species were put in 
lotrochota for this reason, it became evident 
from their other characteristics that they 
actually belonged to several families. The 
type of lotrochota ( hirotulata ) is in the Des- 
macidonidae. In 1936 de Laubenfels took 
out many species, establishing from them the 
genera Hymetrochota and lotroata in the 
Myxillidae, and lotaota in the Tedaniidae. 
Hiattrochota is also in this latter family. The 
two myxillids have megascleres typical of 
that family; Hymetrochota has only amphi- 
discs for microscleres, lotroata also has un- 
guiferate chelas. Of the tedaniids, lotaota 
matches the latter, with both amphidiscs and 
unguiferate chelas as well as megascleres 
typical of the family. Hiattrochota matches 
Hymetrochota, with only amphidiscs as mi- 
croscleres, but megascleres typical of 
Tedaniidae. 
The terminus of the new generic name 
follows the pattern as used for the compar- 
able genera, but the distinctive prefix is given 
in honor of the eminent zoologist, Robert W. 
Hiatt. 
Hiattrochota protea new species 
Fig. 12 
The holotype of this species is designated 
as spirit-preserved specimen, U. S. National 
Museum, Register Number 22750. It was 
collected December 22, 1947, at Moku O 
Loe, at a depth of about 1 meter, in a sluice- 
way ( location number 4, Fig. 2 ) . Another 
specimen was collected May 16, 1948, at 
Kaalualu, near the south end of the island 
of Hawaii. Yet a third slightly different spe- 
cimen was collected May 17, 1948, at Honau- 
nau on the Kona coast of the island of 
Hawaii, 
This species is massive, about fist-size, and 
in life is velvety black. The spirits in which 
it is preserved are stained dark brown, but the 
sponge retains its hue. The consistency is 
somewhat elastic, not remarkable. 
The surface is rather smooth, most of the 
pores having quickly contracted. A few open- 
ings about 1 mm. in diameter are dubiously 
regarded as unclosed pores. The oscules are 
1 to 3 mm. in diameter and characteristically 
each is situated at the summit of a rounded 
dome or lobe, more than 1 cm. in diameter, 
but only about half as high. 
The ectosome consists of a definite dermis 
over subdermal spaces, but is much less flesh- 
V 
U B 
Fig. 12. Hiattrochota protea, spicules, from a 
camera lucida drawing, X h66. A, endosomal 
styles. B, ectosomal strongyles. C, amphidisc or 
birotulate microscleres. 
