186 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, VoL XIX, April 1965 
rays diverging from a centrum, the diameter of 
which is equal to approximately half the length 
of the rays. Each ray is terminated by four to six 
short conical spines. Occasional spicules have 
one or two rays, or some of the terminal spines 
reduced to irregular protuberances. The two 
groups are: (a) larger, and extremely abun- 
dant, 13-16.5/* (14.8/a), and (b) smaller, com- 
mon, but less than 3% of total, 4.0-5.8/a (4.8/a). 
DISCUSSION: Separation of the species of 
i — i 
25 u 
Fig. 29- Timea granulata n. sp. Sta. 53. Holotype. 
USNM 23699. Spicules: 1, Tylostyles. 2, Chiasters. 
Timea rests to a great extent on the form and 
variety of the microscleres. In this respect T. 
granulata is closest to Timea ( Hymedesmia ) 
trigonostellata (Carter) from the Gulf of 
Manaar, differing from this specimen chiefly in 
the size and shape of the megascleres. Those 
microscleres in which the rays are reduced can 
be compared with the lophasters of Timea 
( Hymedesmia ) lophastraea Hentschel. In this 
species, however, all the microscleres are 
lophasters, small amphioxeas occur as supple- 
mentary spicules, and most of the megascleres 
are styles. 
In several species of Timea (e.g. hallezi , 
mixta , bistellata, squamata ) there is great vari- 
ability in the terminations of the microsclere 
rays. T. granulata , with T. trigonostellata and 
T. lophastraea, is remarkably constant in this 
respect. 
FAMILY PLACOSPQNGIIDAE Gray 
genus Placospongia Gray 
Placospongia melobesioides Gray 
RESTRICTED SYNONYMY: 
Placospongia melobesioides Gray, 1867, p. 
127. 
Placospongia melobesioides Yosmaer and 
Vernhout, 1902, p. 13, pi. 1, fig. 5-9, pi. 11, fig. 
1-4, fig. 6, pi. Ill, pi. IV, fig. 1-8, pi. V, fig. 2, 
6 , 10 , 12 . 
Placospongia melobesioides de Laubenfels, 
1954, p. 220, fig. 152. 
OCCURRENCE: Sta. 220 A. 
REMARKS: The species is represented by sev- 
eral large pieces of a single ramose sponge. It 
compares in detail with specimens described by 
earlier authors (Yosmaer, de Laubenfels) from 
various Indo-Pacific localities. The presence of 
small irregular spheres (up to 2.0/a in diame- 
ter) among the microscleres is a diagnostic 
character of P. melobesioides . 
DISTRIBUTION: Wide Indo-Pacific distribu- 
tion. 
ORDER EPIPOLASIDA Sollas 
FAMILY JASPIDAE de Laubenfels 
GENUS Asteropus Sollas 
