BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE. 50(1): 228. 1992 TIMEA PARASITICUS (HADROMERIDA: SPIRASTRELLIDAE) GROWTH ON SHELLS OF LIVING STROMBUS PUGILIS (MESO GASTROPODA: STROMBIDAE) Shawna E. Reed The sponge, Timea parasiticus, was first described from a small fragment found on a crab claw (Carter, 1870), and then from a smalliaminiform sponge encoun- tered growing on another species of sponge (Higgin, 1877). A lack of further information seems to indicate its rarity. However, large specimens ofthis species, corresponding in growth form to the genus as constituted by Gray (1867; cited by Higgin, 1877) and in spicules to those described and illustrated for this species by Higgin (1877), were found growing on the shells ofliving West Indian fighting conch, Strombus pugilis. Timea parasiticus was found growing on the shells of living S. pugilis, in one specific colony located close to Corona de Piedra reef, off of La Parguera, southwest coast of Puerto Rico, at a depth of9 m. Twelve conch with sponge, ranging from a thin coating to a mound of 20 cm in diameter and 15 cm in height, were encountered in the population of approximately 1,800 individuals. Sponges were not uniform but rather lumpy with various sized protuberances, and were orange in color. The sponge adhered to the periostracum of the shell, and there was no evidence of penetration of the shell itself. The conch appeared to be totally unaffected by sponge growth and may even benefit from the camouflaging. All sponges found on living conch were healthy. However, six sponge specimens that were found on empty conch shells or shells inhabited by hermit crabs (Dardanus spp.) were deteriorating and showed no evidence of recent growth. More research is needed to understand the commensal relationship that may exist between this sponge and living conch. As part of other studies (Reed, 1991; Sanders, 1989), exhaustive surveys of two other isolated S. pugilis populations located along the same coast failed to yield T. parasiticus growing in those colonies. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank Prof C. E. Cutress for his help and guidance in identifying this sponge. I would also like to thank my dive partner A. McGehee for review of this manuscript. LITERATURE CITED Carter, H. J. 1870. On Haliphysema racemosa (Bowerbank) and the sponge-spicules of Polytrema. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. Ser. 4, Vol. 5: 299-392. Higgin, T. 1877. Description of some sponges obtained during a cruise of the steam-yacht 'Argo' in the Caribbean and neighboring seas. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. Ser. 4, Vol. 19: 291-299, pI. XIV. Reed, S. E. In press. Masculinized females in the genus Strombus: aspects of their biology and possible advantages for mariculture of conch. Proceedings of the First Latinamerican Malaco- logical Congress, Caracas, Venezuela, July 14-18,1991. Sanders, I. M. 1989. Energy relations in a population of Strombus pugilis. Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, Mayaguez, P.R. 130 pp. DATEACCEPTED: August 13, 1991. ADDRESS: Department of Marine Sciences. University of Puerto Rico. Box 908. Lajas. Puerto Rico 00667. 228.