Sponges of Palau, 1— Bergquist 
145 
Fig. 10 a. Dysidea arenaria n. sp. Holotype. USNM 
23698. Sta. 125. 
Connies are often multiple structures, 1.0-5. 0 
mm high and 20-50 mm apart, receiving as 
many as four fibres. A prominent tracery of 
subdermal fibres shows through the dermal 
membrane, which is packed with sandy detritus. 
SKELETON: Fibres range from 70-120/x in 
diameter and are not clearly distinguishable into 
primary and secondary. They are arranged in a 
reticulate pattern, the meshes of which are com- 
pact near the periphery, open toward the cen- 
ter. Where several fibres converge into a conule 
it is sometimes possible to describe one as "pri- 
mary.” All fibres are cored with detritus and 
little clear spongin remains. 
ECTOSOME: A thick sand cortex, 85-100/x 
deep, is present over the entire sponge. 
ENDOSOME: The endosome contains large 
quantities of extra-fibrillar debris, thus render- 
ing study of the soft tissues extremely difficult. 
Flagellate chambers are oval, 60-85 X 45-60/x, 
and eurypylous. 
DISCUSSION: This sponge has several features 
in common with Dysidea granulosa: the ramose 
form, the lack of distinction between primary 
and secondary fibres, and the presence of a dis- 
tinct sand cortex. The large and irregular sur- 
face conules, the complexity of branching, the 
incorporation of great quantities of debris in 
the endosome, and the prominent tracery of sub- 
dermal fibres give this sponge a very different 
appearance from D. granulosa from the same 
locality. D. arenaria cannot be confused with D. 
fragilis, as it possesses a sand cortex and lacks 
distinct primary and secondary fibres. 
GENUS Euryspongia Row 
Euryspongia lob at a n. sp. 
Fig. 1 la, b 
OCCURRENCE: Sta. 100, 220 (Holotype, 
usnm 23710). 
DESCRIPTION: This species is erect, lobate to 
digitate. 
DIMENSIONS (in cm) : 
Height Length Width 
Sta. 100 5.5 3.5 1.3 
Sta. 220 8.0 9.0 2.8 
COLOR: In alcohol, gray (Sta. 220) near 
(Y-R-Y 7/2), or reddish-brown (Sta. 100) 
between (RY-R 4/2) and (RY-R 4/4). 
TEXTURE: Extremely soft and fleshy, slightly 
elastic. 
100 // 
Fig. 10 A Dysidea arenaria n. sp. Portion of the 
skeleton drawn at right angles to the surface. At this 
point primary and secondary fibres can be distin- 
guished; in the interior of the sponge this distinction 
is lost. 
