Page:Scientific results HMS Challenger vol 18 part 1.djvu/236

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THE VOYAGE OF THE H.M.S. CHALLENGER.

11. Collozoum pelagicum, Haeckel.

Collozoum pelagicum, Haeckel, 1862, Monogr. d. Radiol., p. 525, Taf. xxxii. figs. 4, 5. Sphærozoum pelagicum, Haeckel, 1860, Monatsber. d. k. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, 1860, p. 845.

Central capsules small, quite irregularly formed, roundish-polyhedral or depressed-polygonal, transparent, without oil-globules. Often many extracapsular oil-vesicles in the common jelly-body between the central capsules. Membrane very thin and delicate.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the central capsules 0.02 to 0.08.

Habitat.—Mediterranean, Messina, Haeckel; Naples, Brandt; surface.


12. Collozoum stellatum, n. sp.

Collodastrum stellatum, Haeckel, 1882, Manuscript.

Central capsules star-shaped, irregularly radiating, with a great number (eight to twenty or more) of radial, short, conical, acute processes, very variable in size and number. Membrane thin. In every capsule several (four to eight) oil-globules.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the central capsules 0.12 to 0.2.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 274, surface.


13. Collozoum amœboides, n. sp. (Pl. 3, figs. 4, 5).

Collodastrum amœboides, Haeckel, 1882, Manuscript.

Central capsules amœbiform, of moderate size, quite irregularly formed, with a variable number of finger-like, obtuse, irregular prolongations (commonly three to six), very variable in size and form. Membrane thin. In the centre of every capsule one single oil-globule.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the central capsules 0.04 to 0.08.

Habitat.—Indian Ocean, Ceylon, Haeckel; Madagascar, Rabbe; surface.





Suborder II. BELOIDEA, Haeckel.

Definition.Spumellaria with an imperfect skeleton, composed of numerous solid needles or spicula, scattered irregularly in the calymma.


The suborder Beloidea comprises all those Spumellaria which possess an imperfect or rudimentary skeleton, composed of a variable number of isolated spicula scattered in the extracapsulum. The suborder contains only two different families, the solitary Thalassosphærida (or Beloidea monozoa) and the associated Sphærozoida (or Beloidea polyzoa). Both families are very nearly allied, and differ only in one single character: the solitary life of the former, the social union of the