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PACIFIC SCIENCE, VoL XIX, April 1965 
ing the cloacal opening are more pronounced 
in the younger specimens, the surface pattern 
of pores and tubercles is more regular and the 
ectosome is thinner. 
Jaspis bandae was described from an entire, 
dried specimen and no mention is made of a 
cloaca. One of the Palau specimens has con- 
tracted upon fixation in such a way as to almost 
obscure the cloacal opening; it is possible that 
Jaspis bandae possesses a cloaca similarly hid- 
den by contraction. 
COLOR: In alcohol, straw color (rY 8/4). 
TEXTURE: Variable. Stiff but compressible, 
somewhat waxy, in the smaller specimen, to 
hard, just compressible, almost woody, in the 
larger sponge. 
ectosome: This layer is often thicker than 
de Laubenfels (1954:223) states, varying from 
2-4 mm. In all other details of ectosomal and 
endosomal structure and disposition of the 
skeleton, de Laubenfels’ description cannot be 
added to. 
SPICULES: Megascleres . (a) Oxeas, of ex- 
tremely variable dimensions, not, however, as 
stout as the maximum diameter quoted by other 
authors (Table 14). The ends are often stair- 
stepped on the larger spicules, and most spic- 
ules are slightly bent in the middle. A great 
number of spicules are about 800 X 10 /a-15/x. 
(b) Styles, occasional only; they appear to be 
modifications of the smaller oxeas. 
Microscleres. (a) Microxeas, varying from 
small, microspined, centrotylote rhabds ex- 
tremely similar to those of Ancorina, to large, 
straight or slightly curved, finely spined and 
often centrotylote microxeas. It is possible to 
select three size groups of these spicules as 
Brpndsted (1934) has done. Intermediates reg- 
ularly occur, however, and it is safe to regard 
these spicules as all of one type. The small 
rhabds are concentrated as a surface layer 12- 
15/x deep. They also occur scattered throughout 
the ectosome and abundantly throughout the 
endosome where they intermingle with the 
larger microxeas. (b) Asters, with microspined 
rays, usually pointed, but often strongylote or 
truncate. The tylote modification figured by 
Brpndsted for Jaspis bandae has never been 
observed. 
DISCUSSION: This sponge can be considered 
