Dimensions.—Diameter of the capsules 0.1 to 0.3, length of the spicula 0.1 to 0.2.
Habitat.—-North Pacific, Station 248, surface.
Genus 14. Rhaphidozoum,[1] Haeckel, 1862, Monogr. d. Radiol., p. 529.
Definition.—Sphærozoida with two or more different kinds of spicula; one kind simple, needle-shaped; the other kinds compound, radiate, or branched.
The genus Rhaphidozoum differs from Sphærozoum by the composition of the skeleton of two or more different kinds of spicula, and has therefore the same relation to it as the solitary Lampoxanthura to Lampoxanthella.
In some species nearly all the different forms, which characterise the numerous species of Beloidea, may be united in one and the same individual.
Subgenus 1. Rhaphidonactis, Haeckel.
Definition.—Spicula of two different kinds; one kind simple, needle-shaped, the other radiate (composed of three, four, or more shanks, diverging from one common point).
1. Rhaphidozoum pelagicum, n. sp.
Spicula of two different kinds; one kind simple thin needles, a little curved or bent, the other kind triradiate, with three thin, curved shanks. Both kinds smooth, without thorns. Resembles a combination of Belonozoum italicum and Sphærozoum triactinium.
Dimensions.—Diameter of the central capsules 0.1 to 0.12, length of the spicula 0.05 to 0.15.
Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 267, surface.
2. Rhaphidozoum pacificum, n. sp.
Spicula of two different kinds; one kind simple needles, stout and straight, pointed at both ends, the other kind triradiate, with three straight and stout shanks. Both kinds thorny.
Dimensions.—Diameter of the central capsule 0.06 to 0.08, length of the spicula 0.05 to 0.1.
Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 271, surface.
3. Rhaphidozoum acuferum, Haeckel.
Sphærozoum acuferum, J. Müller, 1858, Abhandl. d. k. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, p. 54, Taf. viii. fig. 3.
Thalassicolla acufera, J. Müller, 1855, Monatsber. d. k. preuss. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, p. 237.Spicula of two different kinds, simple needles and quadriradiate; both strong, thorny, covered with small spinules. Simple needles mostly curved, C-shaped. Four shanks of the quadriradiate
- ↑ Rhaphidozoum = Needle-animal; ῥαφίς, ζῶον.
