PACHYROTULA, A NEW GENUS OF FRESH-WATER SPONGES FROM NEW-CALEDONIA (PORIFERA, SPONGILLIDAE)

Characteristics found during a review of the type material of Spongill a (Stratospongilla) raceki Rutzler from New Caledonia point to a new, monotypic genus, Pachyrotula. This new genus is closely related to Het erorotula Penney & Racek and to Houssayella Bonetto & Ezcurra De Drago . Heterorotula also occurs in New Caledonia and is represented by the species H. caledonensis new species and H. multidentata (Weltner). The se species, along with Oncosclera diahoti (Rutzler), new combination, are indicators of a rare and particular freshwater sponge fauna of thi s island.