Page:Scientific results HMS Challenger vol 18 part 2.djvu/413

Rh Numerous living and fossil forms of Sethocyrtida were previously described by Ehrenberg, partly in his genera Dictyocephalus and Lophophæna, partly (intermingled with three-jointed and many-jointed forms) in the genera Eucyrtidium and Lithocampe. A larger number of new forms has been found in the Radiolarian ooze collected by the Challenger, and others fossil in Barbados. Many of these Sethocyrtida are common and widely distributed. When a new third joint is formed on their basal mouth, they pass over into Theocyrtida.

The cephalis is usually subspherical or hemispherical, and much smaller than the thorax, the form of which exhibits all possible intermediate stages between flat, discoidal, conical, cylindrical, and ovate forms. The wide open mouth becomes more and more constricted, and finally closed in the Sethocapsida. The majority of the Sethocyrtida may have been derived either from the Tripocyrtida, or from the Anthocyrtida by reduction and loss of the radial apophyses.

Definition.— with the basal mouth of the shell open (vel Dicyrtida eradiata aperta).