Page:Scientific results HMS Challenger vol 18 part 1.djvu/224

16 Dimensions.—Major axis of the capsule 0.2, minor 0.05; breadth of the nucleus 0.05, height 0.015; breadth of the calymma 0.6.

Habitat.—Tropical Atlantic, Station 347, surface.

Definition.—Central capsule lentelliptical, with three different axes.

10. Actissa larcoides, n. sp.

Central capsule lentelliptical; with three different axes, bearing the proportion 4 : 3 : 2. Nucleus spherical; its diameter equal to the shortest radius of the capsule. No nucleoli visible. Protoplasm transparent, with small vacuoles; on the inside of the thin capsule-membrane numerous (fifty to sixty) small oil-globules, regularly disposed. Calymma lentelliptical, twice as large as the central capsule.

Dimensions.—Major axis or length of the capsule 0.2, middle axis or breadth 0.15, minor axis or height 0.1; diameter of the nucleus 0.05, of the calymma 0.3-0.4.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 266, surface.

Definition.— without extracapsular alveoles, but with large roundish or globular alveoles within the central capsule, with a simple spherical, not branched nucleus in the centre.

The genus Thalassolampe is, next to Actissa, the most simple of all Radiolaria, but differs from it by the large intracapsular alveoles. By these the central capsule is inflated to an extraordinary size, which in Thalassolampe maxima exceeds that of most other Radiolaria. From the nearly allied Thalassopila it differs by the simple spherical nucleus, from Physematium by the absence of spicula. Of the two species of the genus the first observed Thalassolampe margarodes, 1862, is Mediterranean, the second, Thalassolampe maxima, 1882, is Indian.

1. Thalassolampe margarodes, Haeckel.

Thalassolampe margarodes, Haeckel, 1862, Monogr. d. Radiol., p. 253, Taf. ii. figs. 4, 5.

Thalassolampe margarodes, R. Hertwig, 1876, Histologie d. Radiol., p. 68, Taf. iii. figs. 1-5.

Spherical body very soft and limpid, somewhat pearl-like opalescent, yellowish or bluish. Central capsule with a very thin structureless membrane, its diameter six to eight times as large as that of the central spherical nucleus. Wall of the vesicular nucleus thick, perforated by fine