Genus 221. Stylodictya,[1] Ehrenberg, 1847, Monatsber. d. k. preuss. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, p. 54.
Definition.—Porodiscida with numerous (five or more, commonly eight to twelve) solid radial spines, regularly or irregularly disposed on the margin of the circular or polygonal disk; margin simple, without a porous equatorial girdle.
The genus Stylodictya comprises the majority of this subfamily, in which the number of the marginal spines exceeds four. Commonly we find eight to twelve spines, more or less regularly disposed (four perradial and four interradial, or four perradial and eight adradial); but often also the number and disposition become irregular (sometimes very large). In my Monograph (1862 pp. 495, 515) I had separated the concentric disks with closed circular rings (as true Stylodictya, s. str.) from the spiral disks with convoluted rings (Stylospira). But I retain these two groups here only as two subgenera, as intermediate forms between them are very common, and often a part of the disk concentric, a part spiral (compare above, p. 492).
Subgenus 1. Stylodictyon, Haeckel, 1862, Monogr. d. Radiol., p. 495.
Definition.—All rings of the disk concentric, commonly circular (rarely a little elliptical or polygonal).
1. Stylodictya gracilis, Ehrenberg.
Stylodictya gracilis, Ehrenberg, 1873, Monatsber. d. k. preuss. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, p. 257; Abhandl. d. k. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, 1875, Taf. xxiii. fig. 3.
Stylodictya gracilis, Haeckel, 1862, Monogr. d. Radiol., p. 499.All rings of the disk concentric, circular, of equal breadth (the first ring sometimes, but not constantly, four-lobed). Pores regular, circular, small, three on the breadth of each ring. Four perradial beams (crossed in two perpendicular diameters) beginning from the circular central chamber, four interradial beams from the first or second ring (sometimes others between them). Beams prolonged into eight to twelve (or more) marginal spines, bristle-shaped, as long as the radius of the shell.
Dimensions.—Diameter of the disk (with four rings) 0.12; breadth of each ring 0.013; pores 0.0025.
Habitat.—Fossil in Tertiary rocks of Barbados and Nicobar; living in the depths of the Pacific and Atlantic.
- ↑ Stylodictya = Net with styles; στῦλος, δίκτυον.
