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The sponges Stelleta clarella Tethya aurantia, Lissodendoryx noxiosa, Haliclona permollis and Haliclona sp. were examined for steroids. All sponges contained C27-C29, Δ5, mono and diunsaturated sterols. In addition, the sponge Tethya aurantia contained Z - 24 - propylidene - cholest - 5- en -3β-ol (19) and the 5α,8α-peroxides of cholesta - 5,7 - dien - 3β - ol, ergosterol, ergosta - 5,7,24(28) - trien - 3β - ol and 24ξ - ethyl - cholesta - 5,7 - dien - 3β - ol (29, 30, 31 and 32). The sponge Stelleta clarella also contained 24 - nor - cholesta - 4,22 - dien - 3 - one (21), cholesta - 4,22 - dien - 3 - one (22), 24ξ - methyl - cholesta - 4,22 - dien - 3 - one (24), ergosta - 4,24(28) - dien - 3 - one (25), (E) - stigmasta - 4,24(28) - dien - 3 - one (28), 5α - cholestanol (5), 5α - ergostanol (7) and 5α - poriferastanol (9) The possible biosynthetic significance of these hitherto undescribed peroxides and enones from marine sources is discussed. A synthesis of 19 is also described.

The sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima responds with characteristic contraction to a pheromone released by wounded conspecifics. The alarm pheromone was isolated by ion-exchange chromatography and identified by chemical and spectroscopic methods as the quaternary ammonium ion (3-carboxy-2, 3-dihydroxy-N, N, N-trimethyl)-1-propanaminium. Median effective concentration of the crystalline pheromone is 3.5 X 10-minus 10 mole per liter of seawater.

Starfish Linckia multifora, Protoreaster nodosus, Protoreaster lincki, Culcita schmideliana, Nardoa variolata and Acanthaster planci were examined for sterols and sapogenins. All asteroids contained cholestanol in addition to C 27 to C 30 mono and diunsaturated sterols. A planci contained largest amounts of 5α-cholesta-9(11), 20(22)-diene-3β, 6α-diol-23-one and 5α-pregn-9(11)-ene-3β,6α-diol-20-one whereas P. nodosus, P. lincki and C. schmideliana contained only small amounts. Neither pregnane nor cholestane genins were detected in L. Multifora and N. variolata .

Labelled lanosterol is converted 200 times more efficiently than labelled acetate into holotoxinogenin when administrated to the sea cucumber Stichopus californicus.