The fatty acid composition of phospholipids from the New Caledonian sponge Cinachyrella aff.schulzei Keller was studied. More than 60 fatty acids were identified as methyl esters and N-acyl pyrrolidides by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Two isoprenoid fatty acids also were shown to be present, namely 4,8,12-trimethyltridecanoic and 5,9,13-trimethyltetradecanoic acids. The unusual 6-tetradecenoic, 6-pentadecenoic, 12-nonadecenoic and 26-methylheptacosanoic (iso-28:0) acids were found for the first time in sponge phospholipids. A series of six n-7 monoenoic long-chain fatty acids (C-23 to C-28) were identified, including the rare 16-tricosenoic, 18-pentacosenoic and 21-octacosenoic acids. Fifteen fatty acids possessing the typical 5,9 dienoic moiety accounted for 30% of the total fatty acid mixture. Two new fatty acids were identified, namely 5(Z)-octacosenoic and 27-methyl-5(Z),9(Z)-octacosadienoic (iso-5,9-29:2). Based on gas chromatography/Fourier transform infrared experiments, the double bonds were assigned the (Z) configuration.

MONTROUZIER

SMIB 1

First record of deep-sea sponges dredged by N/O "Vauban" on the upper slope off New caledonia. Sixtenn Lithistida and foorteen Tetractinellida were collected. Twenty-five new species are described and two new genera, Anaderma and Jereicopsis, are related to cretaceous Lithistid fauna.

VAUBAN 1978-1979

BIOCAL

Many Lithistid Sponges were dredged on the northern section of the Norfolk Rise, south of New Caledonia. Two new genera Reidispongia and Herengeria and five new species are described. An extant representative of the Cretaceous genus Aulaxinia Zittel is also described. This fauna shows remarkably close similarities to the Cretaceous European Sponge fauna.

BIOCAL

Soft sedimentary ocean floors are inhospitable for sponges except for a few species which provide their own anchors in the form of rods that act as stakes. Of these, the Monorhaphis (Porifera hexactinellida) is remarkable for the size of its single anchoring spicule. It is also quite rare. After the first reported finding by Chun [1] on his 1898-99 Indian Ocean expedition, the only other report would appear to be that by Burton [2] in 1959.

BIOCAL

BIOCAL

Seventy Sponge species, collected off Manilla on Neoglyphea grounds and between Luzon and Mindoro Islands are described. Sixteen new Species are erected.The variability of morphological characters of Discodermia= and Theonella species are also discussed.

MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 2

The new species C. furcillala of the monotypic genus Claviscopulia Schulze shares the characters of both genera Farrea Bowerbank and Eurele Semper. This species located in Makassar Strait possesses scopules instead of sarules known in the type species. A new diagnosis of Claviscopulia is given. New specimens of Bolosoma cavum Ijima and Hyalonema keianum were collected during the CORINDON cruises.

CORINDON 2

MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5

Sixty-nine species of deep-water sponges were collected during the BLOCAL cruise, on the northern part of Norfolk Rise (S. of New Caledonia), between a depth range of 240-2110 m. 49 species are new to science, of which 14 belong to 5 poecilosclerid genera : Hamacantha, Esperiopsis, Lissodendoryx, Stelodoryx, Coelosphaera. 46 species live in south-subtropical water (between 20 and 7°C) and above 700 m on bioclastic sediments, indurated crusts or rocky cliffs. 23 species were collected below a depth of 700 m in antarctic intermediary water (below 7°C). They are mostly erect, pedicellate or foliaceous sponges; a few cushion like species live on pumice stones.

BIOCAL, SMIB 2

VAUBAN 1978-1979

Forty species of bathyal Demosponges collected south of New Caledonian coasts are described; most of them are new. Two new genera, Heterocornolum and Tylaspis, ami a new family, Cornulidae, are established here.

VAUBAN 1978-1979

During the "MUSORSTOM" cruises in the southwestern Pacific, and particulariy off New Caledonia, 19 species of Hexactinellida Amphidiscophora have been found. Twelve species are considered as new: Hyalonema spatlia, H. uncinata, H. microstauractina, Sericolophus calsubus, S. neocaledonicus, Semperella abyssalis, S. crosnieri, S. varioactina foliopogon micropentactinus, P. claviculus, P. zonecus, and Pheronema pseudogiganteum. Iwo other new species were collected near Hawaii: Sericolophus hawaiicus and off eastern Australia: Sericolophus cidancus. The description of the holotype of Pheronema giganteum Schulze is completed.

BATHUS 4, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, CALSUB, CHALCAL 2, HALIPRO 2, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, Restreint, SMIB 1, SMIB 4, VAUBAN 1978-1979