152 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, VoL XIX, April 1965 
Fig. 15^. Catty spongia suharmigera (Ridley). Sta. 
125. 
species can be transferred to Xestospongia , with 
N. pandora falling to X. exigua (Kirkpatrick). 
DISTRIBUTION: Christmas Island (Kirkpat- 
rick); Yap Archipelago, Palan, Marshall Islands 
(de Laubenfels). 
FAMILY CALLYSPONGIIDAE de Laubenfels 
GENUS Colly spongia Duchassaing and Michelotti 
Colly spongia suharmigera (Ridley) 
Fig. 15 a, h, c 
Cladochalina suharmigera Ridley, 1884, p. 
397, pi. XXXIX, fig. H, pi. XLI, fig. L. 
Pachychalina fibrosa var. gracilis Wilson, 
1925, p. 412. 
C ally spongia suharmigera Burton, 1934, p. 
540. 
occurrence: Sta. 125. 
DESCRIPTION: A repent sponge composed of 
unbranched cylindrical stems 4.0— 9.0 mm in 
diameter, bearing prominent spinous processes 
and having oscules, 2. 5-3. 5 mm, arranged along 
the upper surface. 
surface: Smooth, the pattern of the dermal 
skeleton somewhat obscured by fine coral sand. 
SKELETON : In all essential features the skele- 
ton conforms with the type description of this 
species (Ridley, 1884:397). The construction 
of the endosomal skeleton is essentially radial 
with polyspicular primary fibres diverging from 
an excentric hub. Secondary fibres arise at right 
angles to these. Between the rectangular meshes 
of the secondary fibres a fine system of tertiary, 
mono- or bi-spicular fibres ramifies in irregular 
fashion. The stout endosomal fibre system ter- 
minates abruptly immediately below the sur- 
face. Both primary and secondary fibres give 
rise to a system of fine vertical fibres which 
support the primary and secondary meshes of 
the dermal skeleton. These supporting fibres 
are of equivalent diameter to the primary 
meshes of the dermal skeleton. 
Fibre dimensions (in ,/x ) . 
Skeleton Primary Secondary Tertiary 
Dermal 12-28 4-12 none 
meshes 300-375 meshes 55-78 
Endosomal 37-60 12.5-50 2-15 
The endosome incorporates much debris and ! 
a few Interstitial spicules. 
spicules: Extremely fine strongyles, 72-90 
X 0.8-1.5/a. In a few cases slightly stouter tor- j 
note oxeas occur. 
DISCUSSION : Colly spongia suharmigera Rid- 
ley is a well-characterized species; the type de- 
scription differs from the Palau specimen only 
in possessing tornote oxeas exclusively, where 
the Palau sponge has strongyles predominantly 
and just occasional oxeas. In this respect the 
Fig. 15 b. Catty spongia suharmigera (Ridley). Sec- 
tion of the skeleton showing the radial primary fibres 
and complex network of connecting fibres. 1 ne der- j 
mal network shows at the upper right. 
