Page:Scientific results HMS Challenger vol 18 part 1.djvu/472

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
264
THE VOYAGE OF THE H.M.S. CHALLENGER.

2. Cromyechinus dodecacanthus, n. sp. (Pl. 30, figs. 3, 3a).

Radial proportion of the four spheres = 1 : 3 : 10 : 12. Outer cortical shell very delicate, with very small, regular, circular pores, covered with numerous short bristle-shaped by-spines, scarcely one-fourth as long as the radius; inner cortical shell with very large, irregular, polygonal pores, twice to six times as broad as the bars. Both medullary shells with very small, regular, circular pores, connected with the former by twelve regularly disposed, thin radial beams; these are prolonged outside into twelve strong, three-sided pyramidal main spines, one-third as long as the shell diameter. (Differs from the foregoing only in the number and form of the radial spines.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the four shells—(A) 0.12, (B) 0.1, (C) 0.03, (D) 0.01; pores of the outer cortical shell 0.002, of the inner 0.02, bars 0.002; length of the spines 0.04, basal breadth 0.01.

Habitat.—South Atlantic, Station 325, surface.


3. Cromyechinus polyacanthus, n. sp.

Radial proportion of the four spheres = 1 : 2 : 8 : 10. Outer cortical shell of the same structure as the inner, with irregular, roundish pores, twice to six times as broad as the bars. Both medullary shells with small, regular, circular pores, twice as broad as the bars. Connecting radial beams forty to sixty, thin, cylindrical, prolonged outside into forty to sixty strong conical main spines, about as long as the radius. Between these, numerous thin bristle-shaped by-spines, nearly of the same length.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the four shells—(A) 0.25, (B) 0.2, (C) 0.05, (D) 0.025; pores of both cortical shells 0.01 to 0.03; length of the spines 0.12.

Habitat.—North Pacific, Station 237, surface.


Genus 106. Cromyodrymus,[1] Haeckel, 1881, Prodromus, p. 454.

Definition.Astrosphærida with four concentric lattice-spheres and numerous branched radial spines.

The genus Cromyodrymus differs from its ancestral form, Cromyomma, in the ramification of the radial spines, and exhibits therefore the same relation to it that Pityomma among the Actinommida bears to Actinomma.


1. Cromyodrymus quadricuspis, n. sp. (Pl. 30, figs. 7, 7a).

Radial proportion of the four shells = 1 : 3 : 6 : 12. All four shells with regular, circular pores, about twice as broad as the bars. Radial proportion of the pores in the four shells = 2 : 4 : 2 : 1. Radial spines fifty to sixty, three-sided prismatic, half as long as the radius, with three recurved teeth, each spine in this way bearing four points.

  1. Cromyodrymus = Onion with trees; κρόμυον, δρυμός.