Page:Scientific results HMS Challenger vol 18 part 1.djvu/407

Rh two to eight times as broad as the bars. Radial proportion of the three spheres = 1 : 2 : 4. Main spines three-sided prismatic, with prominent, often somewhat contorted edges, at the distal end cuspidated; longer than the radius of the outer shell.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.15, middle 0.07, inner 0.035; cortical pores 0.01 to 0.03, bars 0.04; length of the six spines 0.11, basal breadth 0.03.

Habitat.—Mediterranean (Messina), surface; Canary Islands (Lanzerote); Haeckel.

24. Hexacontium periplectum, n. sp.

Cortical shell double, enclosing a simple medullary shell. Radial proportion of the three shells = 1 : 4 : 5. Inner cortical shell thick walled, with irregular roundish pores, two to eight times as broad as the bars; five to seven on the radius. Numerous radial spines, arising from it, are connected below their distal ends (at equal distances from the centre) by delicate branched threads, and so form an outer, irregular, thin, cortical shell, with spiny surface. Six main spines three-sided pyramidal, about as long as the radius.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.22, middle 0.2, inner 0.045; cortical pores (of both outer shells) 0.01 to 0.03, bars 0.001 to 0.005; length of the spines 0.1, basal breadth 0.02.

Habitat.—North Pacific, Station 241, surface.

Definition.— with three concentric lattice-spheres and six branched spines of equal size.

The genus Hexadendron differs from Hexacontium in the ramification of the six dimensive spines, and from the similar Hexancistra in the duplication of the medullary shell. As in the latter instance, each spine can bear either three simple lateral branches or three rows of pinnate lateral branches.

1. Hexadendron quadricuspis, n. sp.

All three shells spherical, with radial proportion = 1 : 2 : 6. Pores of both medullary shells regular circular, twice as broad as the bars. Pores of the cortical shell irregular roundish, four to six times as broad as the bars; surface a little thorny. Six radial spines prismatic, with three prominent wing-like edges, which are prolonged below the distal end in three curved lateral branches. (Differs from Hexalonche quadricuspis, Pl. 22, fig. 11, mainly in the double medullary shell.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.15, middle 0.05, inner 0.025; length of the spines 0.12, breadth 0.01.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 272, depth 2600 fathoms.