Five poorly known sponge species from the southwestern Mediterranean are described and their taxonomic status discussed. The species Raspailia agnata and Axinella egregia are recorded for the first time outside the Atlantic. The skeletal arrangement of R. agnata, currently considered an Axinella, justifies placing it in the genus Raspailia alongside other species without acanthostyles (subgenus Syringella). The spicule complement of the Mediterranean specimens of R. agnata perfectly matches that of the type and thus differs from the remaining Atlantic specimens lacking oxeas. Two species of dubious validity (A. salicina and I. pipeta), only known at present by the type, have also been recognized in specimens from Alboran Island. I. pipetta, considered by some authors to be a form of I. variabilis, is presented here as a valid species, not because of its habit but because of its skeletal features. The species Antho oxeifera, also known by a unique specimen, is re described on the basis of a second specimen found in the Columbretes Archipielago. The reliability of the spicule categories described in the holotype and, consequently, the validity of this last species, is confirmed after examination of this second specimen. In view of its skeletal arrangement, Antho is considered to be a more appropiate genus than Clathria in which to place the species originally named C. oxeifera.This study was supported in part by projects CICYT MAR91-0528 (Marine Resources and Aquaculture National Program), MAS2-CT91-0004 (Marine Sciences and Technologies MAST-II) and CICYT PB89-0081 (Fauna Ibérica), and by a "Generalitat de Catalunya" fellowship to Maldonado.Peer reviewed