Subfamily Carposphærida, Haeckel, 1881, Prodromus, p. 449

Definition.—Liosphærida with two concentric spherical lattice-shells, which are united by radial beams.

Carposphæra, Haeckel, 1881, Prodromus, p. 451.

Definition.—Liosphærida with one medullary (intracapsular) and one cortical (extracapsular) shell, both connected by radial beams piercing the central capsule.

The genus Carposphæra comprises a large number of double-shelled Sphæroidea, formerly united with Haliomma, but different from this genus by the absence of radial spines. The shell is composed of two concentric latticed spheres, the inner of which (or the medullary shell) is situated within the central capsule, the other (or the cortical shell) outside it. Both shells are connected by radial beams which pierce the wall of the central capsule. The distance between the shells is at least as large as (commonly much larger than) the radius of the inner shell, whilst in the following genus, Liosphæra, that distance is much smaller than this radius.

Subgenus 1. Melittosphæra, Haeckel, 1881, Prodromus, p. 451.

Definition.—Pores of the cortical shell regular, hexagonal (or circular, with hexagonal frames or lobes), all of nearly equal size and form.

1. Carposphæra capillacea, n. sp.

Cortical shell very delicate, four times as broad as the similarly constructed medullary shell, with regular hexagonal meshes (twenty to twenty-five on the quadrant) and very thin thread-like bars. Both shells connected by twenty (?) very thin radial beams. (Similar to Heliosoma radians, Pl. , fig. 3, 3a, but with smooth surface, without any radial spines.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.2, inner 0.05, pores 0.01, bars below 0.001.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 274, surface.

2. Carposphæra cubaxonia, n. sp.

Cortical shell smooth, three times as broad as the medullary shell, with regular hexagonal pores, four times as broad as the bars. Eight to ten pores on the quadrant. Medullary shell with regular circular pores, twice as broad as the bars. Both shells connected by six radial beams, which are three-sided prismatical, opposite in pairs in the three dimensive axes.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.15, inner 0.05; outer pores 0.01, inner 0.005.

Habitat.—South Pacific, Station 291, surface.

3. Carposphæra infundibulum, Haeckel.

Haliomma infundibuliforme, Stöhr, 1880, Palæontogr. Bd. xxvi. p. 87, Taf. i. fig. 6.

Cortical shell very thick-walled, two and a half times as broad as the medullary shell, with rough surface and regular hexagonal, funnel-shaped pores, of about the same breadth as the bars. Five to six on the quadrant.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.1, inner 0.04, outer pores and bars 0.01.

Habitat.—North Atlantic, Station 354; fossil in Tertiary rocks (Barbados and Sicily).

4. Carposphæra melissa, n. sp.

Cortical shell thick walled, four times as broad as the medullary shell, with regular circular, hexagonally framed pores, three times as broad as the bars. Eight to ten pores on the quadrant. Medullary shell with simple circular pores.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.16, inner 0.04, outer pores 0.012, bars 0.004.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 268, depth 2900 fathoms.

5. Carposphæra melitomma, n. sp. (Pl. , fig. 4).

Melitomma melittosphæra, Haeckel, 1881; Prodromus et Atlas, loc. cit.

Cortical shell thick walled, with thorny surface, two and a half times as broad as the medullary shell. Its pores regular, circular, twice as broad as the bars, elegantly six-lobed, separated by crested hexagonal frames; in each hexagon-corner a short conical papilla (alternating with a lobe). Eight to ten pores on the quadrant. Medullary shell with small simple circular pores.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.17, inner 0.07, outer pores 0.01, bars 0.005, inner pores 0.005.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Stations 266 to 274, in various depths.

Subgenus 2. Cerasosphæra, Haeckel, 1881, Prodromus, p. 451.

Definition.—Pores of the cortical shell regular, circular, without hexagonal frames, all of nearly equal size and form.

6. Carposphæra cerasus, n. sp.

Cortical shell thin walled, smooth, twice as broad as the medullary shell; both with regular circular pores, six times as broad as the bars. Twelve to fifteen pores on the quadrant. Outer pores twice as large as the inner.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.24, inner 0.12; outer pores 0.016, inner 0.008.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 271, surface.

7. Carposphæra apiculata, Haeckel.

? Haliomma apiculatum, Ehrenberg, 1872; Monatsber. d. k. preuss. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, p. 313.

Cortical shell thin-walled, covered with numerous short conical thorns, three times as broad as the medullary shell. Pores regular, circular, four times as broad as the bars. Six to eight pores on the quadrant.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.15, inner 0.05, outer pores 0.012, bars 0.03.

Habitat.—North Pacific, California, depth 2000 fathoms; Station 254, depth 3025 fathoms.

8. Carposphæra entactinia, Haeckel.

Haliomma entactinia, Ehrenberg, 1875, Abhandl. d. k. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, p. 74, Taf. xxvi. fig. 4.

Cortical shell thick walled, rough, twice as broad as the medullary shell; both shells with regular circular pores, twice as broad as the bars. Six to eight pores on the quadrant. Outer pores half as broad as the inner. Both shells connected by very numerous (twenty-four to forty-eight or more) radial beams.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.12, inner 0.06, outer pores 0.008, bars 0.004, inner pores 0.004.

Habitat.—Cosmopolitan; Atlantic and Pacific, in various depths; fossil in Barbados and Sicily.

9. Carposphæra modesta, Haeckel.

Haliomma modestum, Stöhr, 1880, Palæontogr. Bd. xxvi. p. 86, Taf. i. fig. 5.

Cortical shell thick walled, rough, three times as broad as the medullary shell, with regular circular pores of the same breadth as the bars. Eight to twelve pores on the quadrant. (Very common, like the preceding species, and connected with it by numerous intermediate forms.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.12 to 0.2, inner 0.04 to 0.07, pores and bars 0.006 to 0.008.

Habitat.—Atlantic and Pacific, from many Stations and at various depths; fossil in Barbados and Sicily.

10. Carposphæra belladonna, n. sp.

Cortical shell thick walled, smooth, five times as broad as the medullary shell, with regular circular pores of the same breadth as the bars. Twenty to twenty-two pores on the quadrant.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.3, inner 0.06, outer pores and bars 0.004.

Habitat.—North Atlantic, Færöe Channel, John Murray.

11. Carposphæra areca, n. sp.

Cortical shell very thick walled, rough, twice as broad as the medullary shell, with regular circular pores half as broad as the bars. Eight to ten pores on the quadrant.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.12, inner 0.06, outer pores 0.03, bars 0.006.

Habitat.—Indian Ocean, Ceylon, Haeckel, surface.

Subgenus 3. Prunosphæra, Haeckel, 1881, Prodromus, p. 451.

Definition.—Pores of the cortical shell irregular polygonal, of unequal size or dissimilar form.

12. Carposphæra prunulum, n. sp.

Cortical shell thin walled, smooth, four times as broad as the medullary shell, with large irregular polygonal pores, four to eight times as broad as the bars. Connecting beams between them numerous.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.24, inner 0.06, outer pores 0.008 to 0.016, bars 0.002.

Habitat.—South Atlantic, Station 325, surface.

13. Carposphæra corypha, n. sp.

Cortical shell thin walled, rough, three times as broad as the medullary shell, with irregular polygonal pores, three to six times as broad as the bars. Connecting beams between the two shells twenty, regularly disposed.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.15, inner 0.05, outer pores 0.01 to 0.02, bars 0.003.

Habitat.—South Pacific, Station 300, surface.

14. Carposphæra borassus, n. sp.

Cortical shell thick walled, smooth, three times as broad as the medullary shell, with irregular polygonal pores, two to four times as broad as the bars. Connecting beams between the two shells six, opposite by pairs in the three dimensive axes. (Similar to Hexalonche aristarchi, Pl. , fig. 3, but without external radial spines.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.12, inner 0.04, outer pores 0.01 to 0.02, bars 0.005.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 268, surface.

Subgenus 4. Phœnicosphæra, Haeckel.

Definition.—Pores of the cortical shell irregular roundish, of unequal size or form.

15. Carposphæra nobilis, Haeckel.

Haliomma nobile, Ehrenberg, 1844, Monatsber. d. k. preuss. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, p. 268; Abhandl., 1875, Taf. xxvii. fig. 6.

Cortical shell thin walled, rough, twice as broad as the medullary shell, with irregular roundish pores, two to four times as broad as the bars.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.1, inner 0.05, outer pores 0.01 to 0.02, bars 0.006.

Habitat.—Cosmopolitan; Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, at various depths; fossil in Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Tertiary rocks.

16. Carposphæra micrococcus, n. sp.

Cortical shell thin walled, rough, seven times as broad as the medullary shell, with irregular roundish pores, three to six times as broad as the bars.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.2, inner 0.03, outer pores 0.012 to 0.025, bars 0.004.

Habitat.—South Atlantic, Station 330, surface.

17. Carposphæra maxima, n. sp.

Cortical shell thin walled, smooth, five times as broad as the medullary shell, with irregular roundish pores, of about the same breadth as the bars.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.4, inner 0.08, pores and bars 0.004 to 0.008.

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

18. Carposphæra nodosa, n. sp. (Pl. , figs. 2, 2a).

Anthomma nodosum, Haeckel, 1879, Atlas, loc. cit.

Cortical shell thick walled, covered with forty to fifty scattered pyramidal nodules, two and a half times as broad as the medullary shell, connected with it by very numerous thin radial beams. Outer and inner pores irregular roundish or polygonal, two to three times as broad as the bars. (This species in consequence of the cortical nodules may represent a peculiar genus, analogous to Conosphæra, called Anthomma.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.13, inner 0.05, inner and outer pores 0.008 to 0.012, bars 0.004.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 271, depth 2425 fathoms.

Genus 20. Liosphæra, Haeckel, 1881, Prodromus, p. 449.

Definition.—Liosphærida with two cortical (extracapsular) shells (without a medullary or intracapsular shell).

The genus Liosphæra agrees with the preceding Carposphæra in the possession of two concentric latticed spheres; but whilst in the latter genus the inner sphere is a medullary one (intracapsular), the outer a cortical shell (extracapsular), both connected by radial beams piercing the capsule-wall, here in Liosphæra the central capsule lies freely within the inner lattice shell and is not pierced by radial beams. Therefore both shells are here cortical shells, both separated by a distance, which is constantly much smaller than the radius of the inner shell; whereas in Carposphæra this distance is at least as large as that radius (commonly much larger). In Carposphæra the number of pores in both shells is never the same; in several species of Liosphæra this number is the same, each outer regular hexagonal pore exactly corresponding to an inner; the six corners of each connected by six short radial beams.

Subgenus 1. Melitomma, Haeckel.

Definition.—Pores of both shells regular, in each shell all of nearly equal size and form.

1. Liosphæra hexagonia, n. sp. (Pl. , fig. 3).

Both shells with the same number of pores, exactly corresponding, about ten on the quadrant. All pores regular, or subregular, hexagonal; the outer twice as broad as the inner. Outer bars very thin, thread-like; inner bars thick, one-third as broad as the pores. Surface smooth. Both shells connected by numerous radial beams, their distance one-third as large as the radius of the inner shell.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.16, inner 0.12, distance of both 0.02; outer pores 0.014, inner pores 0.007.

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

2. Liosphæra rhodococcus, n. sp.

Both shells with the same number of pores, exactly corresponding, about twelve on the quadrant. All pores regular or subregular; the inner circular, with elegant six-lobed frames, twice as broad as the bars; the outer hexagonal, with very thin thread-like bars. All corners of the outer and inner hexagons connected by thin, bristle-shaped radial beams. (Similar to Haliomma rhodococcus, Pl. , fig. 6; but with smooth surface and regular hexagonal pores of the outer shell.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.2, inner 0.16, distance of both 0.02; outer pores 0.03, inner 0.01.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 266, depth 2750 fathoms.

3. Liosphæra porulosa, n. sp.

Both shells with regular hexagonal pores; their number in the outer shell seven times as great as in the inner. Pores of the stout inner shell large, three times as broad as the bars, about eight on the quadrant. From each hexagon-corner arises one bristle-shaped radial beam; their distal ends are united by threads (three from each), forming the large meshes of the delicate outer shell. Each of these is divided by very thin threads into seven small circular porules, one central and six around it.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.25, inner 0.2, distance of both 0.025; outer pores 0.04, their porules 0.012, inner pores 0.15.

Habitat.—Indian Ocean, Sunda Strait, Rabbe; surface.

Subgenus 2. Craspedomma, Haeckel.

Definition.—Pores of both shells irregular, in each shell differing either in form or size.

4. Liosphæra peridromium, n. sp.

Both shells with the same number of large, polygonal, very irregular pores, exactly corresponding (about eight to ten on the quadrant); both with a very delicate thin framework. From the thread-like bars of the inner, very large and thin-walled, sphere arise perpendicularly innumerable short bristles of equal length, which are united at equal distances by tangential thread-like bars, parallel to the former, composing the outer shell. Each mesh is, therefore, surrounded by a delicate ballister or rail.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.42, inner 0.4, distance of both 0.01; diameter of the meshes 0.02 to 0.06.

Habitat.—North Pacific, Station 250, surface.

5. Liosphæra polypora, n. sp. (Pl. , fig. 2).

Both shells with small irregular roundish pores, of about the same size as the bars between them; twenty to thirty on the quadrant. The pores of the outer shell somewhat smaller, therefore much more numerous than the pores of the inner shell. Distance between the two shells about one-third as great as the radius of the inner. Both shells connected by numerous thin radial beams. Surface smooth or a little rough.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.18, inner 0.14, distance of both 0.02; pores and bars 0.003 to 0.005.

Habitat.—West Tropical Pacific, Station 225, depth 4475.