“Ectyodoryx antarctica (Hentschel).
Lissodendoryx antarctica, Hentschel, 1914, p. 102, pl. vii, fig. 9; Burton, 1929, p. 399.
Occurrence. St. 160: Shag Rocks, 177 m.
REMARKS. The present specimen agrees with Hentschel’s holotype from the Antarctic in external form, in the shape of the acanthostyli and tornota, and, fairly closely, in the dimensions of the spicules. It differs in the presence of small, echinating acanthostyli, and in the somewhat broader shape of the chelae. The dimensions of its spicules are: large acanthostyli 0•195 by 0•012 mm., echinating acanthostyli 0•09 by 0•006 mm. tornota 0•18 by 0•004 mm., larger chelae 0•021 mm., smaller chelae 0•013 mm., sigmata 0•018–0•025 mm.
As regards the presence of the echinating acanthostyli, there is a specimen from McMurdo Sound, in the British Museum collection, which I had identified as a perfectly typical example of L. antarctica. On re-examination, however, this was found to have echinating acanthostyli also, but they were rather rare, and I had overlooked them in my first examination. Possibly therefore the holotype of the species may also possess echinating acanthostyles which were overlooked by Hentschel.
The dimensions of the spicules in the McMurdo Sound sponge are: large acanthostyli 0•24 by 0•004 mm., echinating acanthostyli 0•15 by 0•009 mm., tornota 0•189 by 0•006 mm., larger chelae 0•026 mm., smaller chelae 0•018 mm., sigmata 0•02---0•03 mm. This specimen thus approximates more closely to that described by Hentschel in the dimensions of its spicules.
Assuming that the species rightly belongs to Ectyodoryx, we may say that it has considerable resemblance to Ectyodoryx (Myxilla) compressa (Ridley and Dendy) and, to a lesser extent, to Ectyomyxilla kerguelensis, Hentschel.
DISTRIBUTION. Wilhelm Land; Victoria Land.”
(Burton, 1932)
