Subfamily Sphærostylida, Haeckel, 1881, Prodromus, pp. 449, 451

Definition.—Stylosphærida with two concentric, spherical lattice-shells.

Genus 48. Stylosphæra, Ehrenberg, 1847, Monatsber. d. Berlin Akad., p. 54.

Definition.—Stylosphærida with two concentric lattice-spheres and two free spines of equal size and similar form.

The genus Stylosphæra, the most simple form of the Sphærostylida, can be derived either from Xiphosphæra by duplication of the spherical shell, or from Carposphæra by development of two opposite polar spines. The inner or medullary shell is enclosed in the central capsule, whilst the outer or cortical shell lies outside it; the two are connected by two or more radial beams, piercing the wall of the capsule.

Subgenus 1. Stylosphærantha, Haeckel.

Definition.—Pores of the cortical shell regular, of nearly equal size and similar form; surface smooth or a little rough, without spines or thorns.

1. Stylosphæra musa, n. sp.

Radial proportion of the two concentric spheres = 3 : 1. Cortical shell thin walled, smooth, with regular, hexagonal pores, three times as broad as the thin bars; twelve on the half equator. Polar spines three-sided pyramidal, as long as the axis of the cortical shell, one-tenth as broad at the base.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.2, pores 0.01, bars 0.003; diameter of the inner shell 0.06; length of the polar spines 0.2, basal breadth 0.02.

Habitat.—Tropical Atlantic, Station 347, depth 2250 fathoms.

2. Stylosphæra urania, n. sp.

Radial proportion of the two shells = 4 : 1. Cortical shell thin walled, smooth; pores regular, circular, hexagonally framed, twice as broad as the bars; ten on the half equator. Polar spines conical, as long as the radius of the outer shell.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the cortical shell 0.24, pores 0.012, bars 0.006; medullary shell 0.06; length of the polar spines 0.12, basal breadth 0.024.

Habitat.—South Pacific, Station 285, depth 2375 fathoms.

3. Stylosphæra calliope, n. sp. (Pl. , fig. 6).

Radial proportion of the two shells = 3 : 1. Cortical shell thick walled, smooth; pores regular, circular, three times as broad as the bars. Each pore on its outer opening with eight regular lobules, flower-like. Nine to ten pores on the half equator. Polar spines three-sided pyramidal, with three strong prominent edges, about as long as the axis, as broad as one pore. (Sometimes, as in the figured specimen, one spine is smaller than the other; this variety, otherwise identical, may be called Sphærostylus calliope.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.12, pores 0.015, bars 0.005; inner shell 0.04; length of the polar spine 0.08 to 0.12, breadth 0.02.

Habitat.—Pacific, central area, Station 268, depth 2900 fathoms.

4. Stylosphæra clio, n. sp. (Pl. , fig. 7).

Radial proportion of the two shells = 2 : 1. Cortical shell thick walled, smooth; pores regular, circular, three times as broad as the bars; fourteen to sixteen on the half equator. Polar spines three-sided pyramidal, very robust, with thick prismatic edges, about as long as the axis of the cortical shell, one-third as broad at the base. (Sometimes, as in the figured specimen, one spine is greater than the other; this form may be called Sphærostylus clio.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.12, pores 0.01, bars 0.003; inner shell 0.06; length of the polar spines 0.08 to 0.12, basal breadth 0.03 to 0.04.

Habitat.—Pacific, central area; Station 272, depth 2600 fathoms.

5. Stylosphæra polyhymnia, n. sp.

Radial proportion of the two spheres = 3 : 1. Cortical shell very thin walled, smooth, with regular, circular pores, three times as broad as the bars; sixteen to twenty on the half equator. Polar spines cylindrical, pointed, once and a half to twice as long as the axis of the outer sphere, scarcely broader than one pore. The two spheres are connected only by the two opposite beams.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.12 to 0.16, pores 0.006 to 0.009, bars 0.002 to 0.003; inner shell 0.04 to 0.05; length of the polar spines 0.18 to 0.22, breadth 0.01.

Habitat.—Cosmopolitan; Mediterranean, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, surface.

6. Stylosphæra dixyphos, Haeckel.

Haliomma dixyphos, Ehrenberg, 1854, Monatsber. d. k. preuss. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, p. 83; Mikrogeol., Taf. xxii. fig. 31.

Haliomma dixyphos, Haeckel, 1862, Monogr. d. Radiol. p. 433.

Radial proportion of the two spheres = 2 : 1. Cortical shell thin walled, smooth, with regular, circular pores, twice as broad as the bars; ten to twelve on the half equator. Polar spines about as long as the axis of the outer shell, three-sided pyramidal, at the base twice as broad as one pore. (The two spheres connected by four beams, two opposite in the main axis, two opposite in the equatorial axis.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.1, pores 0.01, bars 0.05; inner shell 0.05; length of the polar spines 0.08 to 0.1, basal breadth 0.02.

Habitat.—South Atlantic, Station 332, surface; fossil in Tertiary rocks of Sicily.

Subgenus 2. Stylosphærella, Haeckel.

Definition.—Pores of the cortical shell regular, of nearly equal size and similar form; surface thorny or spiny.

7. Stylosphæra setosa, Ehrenberg, 1872.

Stylosphæra setosa, Ehrenberg, 1872, Monatsber. d. k. preuss. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, p. 320; Abhandl. d. k. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, Taf. viii. fig. 15.

Radial proportion of the two shells = 2 : 1. Cortical shell thin walled, spiny; pores regular, hexagonal, four times as broad as the bars. Six to eight pores on the half equator. Polar spines conical, thin, scarcely as long as the radius of the cortical shell.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the cortical shell 0.1, pores 0.002, bars 0.005; medullary shell 0.05; length of the polar spines 0.04, basal breadth 0.01.

Habitat.—Philippine Sea, depth 3300 fathoms, Ehrenberg; Station 206, depth 2100 fathoms.

8. Stylosphæra euterpe, n. sp.

Radial proportion of the two shells = 3 : 1. Cortical shell thin walled, spiny; pores regular, circular, with hexagonal frames, twice as broad as the bars; eight to ten on the half equator. Polar spines conical, as thick as one pore at the base, about as long as the axis of the cortical shell.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the cortical shell 0.12, pores 0.012, bars 0.006; medullary shell 0.04; length of the polar spines 0.1, basal breadth 0.012.

Habitat.—South Pacific, Station 302, depth 1450 fathoms.

9. Stylosphæra melpomene, n. sp. (Pl. , fig. 1).

Radial proportion of the two shells = 3 : 1. Cortical shell thin walled, spiny, with regular, circular pores, four times as broad as the bars; eight to ten on the half equator. Polar spines three-sided prismatic, pointed, as broad as one pore, only one-third as long as the axis of the sphere (the two shells connected by four thin beams, two opposite in the main axis, two in the equatorial axis).

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.12, pores 0.012, bars 0.003; inner shell 0.04; length of the polar spines 0.04, thickness 0.013.

Habitat.—Indian Ocean, Cocos Islands, Rabbe.

10. Stylosphæra hispida, Ehrenberg, 1854.

Stylosphæra hispida, Ehrenberg, 1854, Monatsber. d. k. preuss. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, p. 246; Mikrogeol, Taf. xxxvi. fig. 26.

Haliomma hispidum, Haeckel, 1862, Monogr. d. Radiol., p. 433.

Radial proportion of the two spheres = 3 : 1. Cortical shell thick walled, spiny, with regular, circular pores of the same breadth as the bars; ten to fifteen on the half equator. Polar spines three-sided prismatic, pointed, about as long as the axis of the outer sphere, nearly as broad at the base as the inner sphere. (Compare Sphærostylus hispidus; also Ehrenberg, Monatsber. d. k. preuss. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, 1874, p. 259.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.1 to 0.12, pores and bars 0.004; inner shell 0.04; length of the polar spines 0.1 to 0.15, basal breadth 0.03.

Habitat.—Fossil in the Tertiary rocks of Sicily, Barbados, Nicobars, &c.

11. Stylosphæra liostylus, Ehrenberg, 1875.

Stylosphæra liostylus, Ehrenberg, Abhandl. d. k. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, p. 84, Taf. xxv. fig. 3.

Radial proportion of the two spheres = 3 : 1. Cortical shell thick walled, thorny, with regular, circular pores, three times as broad as the bars; eight to ten on the half equator. Polar spines conical, once and a half to twice as long as the axis of the outer sphere, half as broad at the base as its radius. (This species, common in the Barbados rocks, is different from Sphærostylus liostylus, loc. cit., fig. 2, which Ehrenberg believed identical.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.1, pores 0.01, bars 0.0035; inner shell 0.03; length of the polar spines 0.14 to 0.18, basal breadth 0.02.

Habitat.—Fossil in the Barbados rocks; living in the depths of the North Atlantic, Gulf Stream, Florida.

Subgenus 3. Stylosphærissa, Haeckel.

Definition.—Pores of the cortical shell irregular, of different size or form; surface smooth or a little rough, without thorns or spines.

12. Stylosphæra nana, n. sp. (Pl. , figs. 12, 13).

Radial proportion of the two spheres = 2 : 1. Cortical shell thick walled, somewhat irregular, smooth, with irregular, roundish pores, one to three times as broad as the bars; eight to ten on the half equator. Polar spines three-sided pyramidal, scarcely as long as the axis of the outer sphere, and nearly as broad at the base as its radius. (A very variable and irregular form.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.07 to 0.09, pores 0.003 to 0.009, bars 0.003; inner shell 0.03 to 0.04; length of the polar spines 0.04 to 0.07, basal breadth 0.03.

Habitat.—North Pacific, Stations 241 to 253, surface.

13. Stylosphæra jugata, n. sp.

Radial proportion of the two shells = 2 : 1. Cortical shell thick walled, smooth, with irregular, roundish, double-contoured pores, confluent in groups of two to six. On the half equator six to nine groups and fifteen to twenty pores; bars between them of very variable breadth. Polar spines very strong, three-sided pyramidal, twice as long as the axis of the outer sphere, half as broad at the base as its radius. (Nearly allied to Lithatractus jugatus, Pl. , fig. 2, but differs in the truly spherical form of both shells and the double length of the polar spines.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.15, pores 0.005 to 0.02; inner shell 0.07; length of the polar spines 0.25 to 0.3, basal breadth 0.03.

Habitat.—Western Tropical Pacific, Station 224, depth 1850 fathoms.

14. Stylosphæra terpsichore, n. sp.

Radial proportion of the two shells = 3 : 1 or 4 : 1. Cortical shell thick walled, smooth, with irregular, roundish pores, one to three times as broad as the bars; fifteen to twenty-five on the half equator. Polar spines conical, about as long as the axis of the outer sphere, as broad at the base as the inner shell.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.15 to 0.2, pores 0.005 to 0.02, bars 0.004 to 0.008; inner shell 0.05; length of the polar spines 0.15 to 0.25, basal breadth 0.05.

Habitat.—Western Indian Ocean, Zanzibar, depth 2200 fathoms, Pullen.

Subgenus 4. Stylosphæromma, Haeckel.

Definition.—Pores of the cortical shell irregular, of different size or form; surface spiny or thorny.

15. Stylosphæra thalia, n. sp.

Radial proportion of the two shells = 2 : 1. Cortical shell thin walled, thorny, with irregular, roundish pores, two to four times as broad as the bars; eight to twelve on the half equator. Polar spines conical, one to one and a half times as long as the axis of the outer sphere, one-fourth to one-sixth as thick at the base. (Resembles Sphærostylus ophidium, Pl. , fig. 14, but differs in the straight regular conical polar spines, both of equal length and similar form.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.12, pores 0.01 to 0.02, bars 0.005; inner shell 0.06; polar spines 0.1 to 0.16 long, 0.03 broad.

Habitat.—South Pacific, Station 302, depth 1450 fathoms.

16. Stylosphæra erato, n. sp.

Radial proportion of the two shells = 3 : 1. Cortical shell thick walled, thorny, with irregular, roundish pores, two to five times as broad as the bars; fourteen to eighteen on the half equator. Polar spines three-sided pyramidal, about as long as the axis of the outer sphere, one-fourth as broad as its radius. (Similar to Xiphosphæra vesta, Pl. , fig. 6.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.15, pores 0.008 to 0.015, bars 0.003; inner shell 0.05; polar spines 0.12 long, 0.02 broad.

Habitat.—South Atlantic, Station 335, depth 1425 fathoms.

Genus 49. Sphærostylus, Haeckel, 1881, Prodromus, p. 451.

Definition.—Stylosphærida with two concentric lattice-spheres and two free spines, of different size or form.

The genus Sphærostylus differs from Stylosphæra in the different size or form of the two polar spines, and therefore has the same relation to it that Xiphostylus bears to Xiphosphæra.

Subgenus 1. Sphærostylantha, Haeckel.

Definition.—Pores of the cortical shell regular, of nearly equal size and similar form; surface smooth or a little rough, without thorns.

1. Sphærostylus liostylus, Haeckel.

Stylosphæra liostylus, Ehrenberg, 1875, Abhandl. d. k. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, Taf. xxv. fig. 2.

Cortical shell thin walled, with rough surface, three times as broad as the medullary shell. Pores of the cortical shell regular, circular, twice as broad as the bars; ten to twelve on the half equator. Polar spines cylindrical, as broad as one pore, with conical apex; the minor spine about as long as the axis of the outer shell, the major three to four times as long.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer sphere 0.12, pores 0.12, bars 0.006; diameter of the inner sphere 0.04; length of the major polar spine 0.3 to 0.4, of the minor 0.1 to 0.15, breadth 0.012.

Habitat.—Fossil in the Barbados rocks.

2. Sphærostylus flexuosus, Haeckel.

Stylosphæra flexuosa, Ehrenberg, 1875, Abhandl. d. k. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, Taf. xxv. fig. 5.

Cortical shell thick walled, with rough surface, three times as broad as the medullary shell. Pores of the cortical shell regular circular, of the same breadth as the bars; eight to ten on the half equator. Polar spines cylindrical, S-like curved, irregular; the minor scarcely as long as the axis of the outer sphere, the major two to three times as long. (In the figure of Ehrenberg the spines are broken off; I have found them myself constantly irregular and of unequal length, sometimes with conical apex.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer sphere 0.08, pores and bars 0.006; inner sphere 0.03; length of the major polar spine 0.15 to 0.25, of the minor 0.07 to 0.09, breadth 0.02.

Habitat.—Fossil in the Barbados rocks.

3. Sphærostylus clio, n. sp.

Cortical shell thick walled, with smooth surface, twice as broad as the medullary shell; its network has regular, circular pores, three times as broad as the bars; sixteen to twenty on the half equator. Polar spines very strong, three-sided pyramidal; the major nearly twice as long as the axis of the outer sphere, the minor scarcely as long as its radius. (Nearly related to Stylosphæra clio, Pl. , fig. 7, but differs in the slender form and unequal length of the polar spines.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer sphere 0.14, pores 0.01, bars 0.03; inner sphere 0.07; length of the major spine 0.25, of the minor 0.06, basal breadth 0.02.

Habitat.—Pacific, central area, Station 274, depth 2750 fathoms.

4. Sphærostylus hippocampus, n. sp. (Pl. , figs. 10, 11).

Cortical shell thick walled, with smooth surface and regular network; the pores circular, hexagonally-lobed, three times as broad as the bars; ten to twelve on the half equator. Medullary shell half as large, with very small circular pores, eight to ten on the half equator. Major polar spine scarcely as long as the axis of the outer shell, curved like a horn; minor spine scarcely half as long, pommel-like, edged. (Sometimes, by prolongation of the main axis, the spherical shells become ellipsoidal and thus the species is transformed into Druppatractus hippocampus.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer sphere 0.08, pores 0.009, bars 0.003; inner sphere 0.04; length of the major spine 0.07, of the minor 0.03, breadth 0.02.

Habitat.—Pacific, central area, Station 270, depth 2925 fathoms.

Subgenus 2. Sphærostyletta, Haeckel.

Definition.—Pores of the cortical shell regular, of nearly equal size and form; surface spiny or thorny.

5. Sphærostylus diadema, n. sp.

Cortical shell thick walled, spiny, twice as broad as the medullary shell, with regular, circular pores, twice as broad as the bars; eight to ten on the half equator. Major polar spine about as long as the axis of the outer sphere, three-sided pyramidal; minor spine scarcely half as long, pommel-shaped, edged. (Similar in general form to Xiphatractus glyptodon, Pl. , figs. 9, 10; but differs in the simple medullary shell, the spherical form of both shells, and the simple circular regular pores.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer sphere 0.12, pores 0.014, bars 0.007; inner sphere 0.06; length of the major spine 0.13, of the minor 0.05, greatest breadth 0.04.

Habitat.—Southern Pacific, surface, Station 289.

Subgenus 3. Sphærostylissa, Haeckel.

Definition.—Pores of the cortical shell irregular, of different size or form; surface smooth or a little rough.

6. Sphærostylus cottus, n. sp.

Cortical shell thick walled, smooth, about twice as broad as the medullary shell, with irregular, roundish pores, scarcely larger than the bars; fifteen to twenty on the half equator. Polar spines conical, the major once and a half to twice as long as the axis of the outer sphere, the minor scarcely as long as its radius.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer sphere 0.14, pores and bars 0.008 to 0.012; inner sphere 0.065; length of the major spine 0.2 to 0.3, of the minor 0.05 to 0.07, basal breadth 0.03.

Habitat.—Northern Atlantic, Færöe Channel, surface, John Murray.

7. Sphærostylus trigla, n. sp.

Cortical shell thin walled, smooth, three times as broad as the medullary shell, with irregular, roundish pores, two to three times as broad as the bars; ten to twelve on the half equator. Polar spines very unequal; the major three-sided pyramidal, one and a half times as long as the axis of the outer sphere; the minor scarcely as long as its radius, edged, pommel-like.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer sphere 0.12, pores 0.01 to 0.015, bars 0.005; inner sphere 0.04; length of the major spine 0.2, of the minor 0.05, breadth 0.03.

Habitat.—Northern Pacific, Station 241, depth 2300 fathoms.

Subgenus 4. Sphærostylomma, Haeckel.

Definition.—Pores of the cortical shell irregular, of different size or form; surface spiny or thorny.

8. Sphærostylus ophidium, n. sp. (Pl. , figs. 14, 15).

Stylosphæra ophidium, Haeckel, 1878, Atlas, loc. cit.

Cortical shell thin walled, thorny, twice as broad as the medullary shell, with irregular, roundish pores; eight to ten on the half equator. Polar spines conical, more or less curved or S-shaped; the minor scarcely as long as the axis of the outer sphere, the major two to three times as long.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer sphere 0.11, pores 0.01 to 0.017, bars 0.003 to 0.007; diameter of the inner sphere 0.06, pores 0.005 to 0.008, bars 0.002 to 0.004; length of the major polar spine 0.25, of the minor 0.1, basal breadth 0.03.

Habitat.—Indian Ocean, Madagascar, Rabbe, surface.

Genus 50. Saturnulus, Haeckel, 1881, Prodromus, p. 451.

Definition.—Stylosphærida with two concentric lattice-spheres and two equal opposite spines, the distal ends of which are connected by a circular or elliptical ring.

The genus Saturnulus differs from the similar Saturnalis by the duplication of the spherical lattice-shell; the inner lies within, the outer without the central capsule.

1. Saturnulus circulus, n. sp.

Cortical shell smooth, twice as broad as the medullary shell, with regular, circular, hexagonally framed pores, of the same breadth as the bars; fourteen to sixteen on the half equator. Ring circular, smooth, without edges, its diameter three times as great as that of the sphere.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer sphere 0.08, pores and bars 0.004; of the inner sphere 0.04, of the ring 0.24.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 272, surface.

2. Saturnulus annulus, n. sp.

Cortical shell smooth, three times as broad as the medullary shell, with regular, circular, hexagonally framed pores, of the same breadth as the bars; eighteen to twenty on the half equator. Ring elliptical, smooth, without edges, somewhat constricted at the poles of the minor axis, its major diameter four times as great as that of the sphere. Differs from Saturnalis annularis, Pl. , fig. 16, mainly in the possession of a medullary shell.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer sphere 0.1, pores and bars 0.005; inner sphere 0.033; major axis of the ring 0.4, minor 0.3.

Habitat.—North Pacific, Station 244, surface.

3. Saturnulus ellipticus, n. sp. (Pl. , fig. 16).

Cortical shell smooth, three times as broad as the medullary shell, with regular, circular pores, three times as broad as the bars; sixteen to eighteen on the half equator. Ring elliptical, smooth, without edges, its major diameter three times as great as that of the sphere.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer sphere 0.09, pores 0.006, bars 0.002; inner sphere 0.03; major axis of the elliptical ring 0.28, minor 0.24; thickness of the ring and the axial beams 0.008.

Habitat.—South Pacific, Station 300, surface.

4. Saturnulus planetes, n. sp. (Pl. , fig. 17).

Cortical shell smooth, twice as broad as the medullary shell, with regular, circular pores, of the same breadth as the bars; sixteen to eighteen on the half equator. Ring elliptical, smooth, with strong prominent edges, constricted at the poles of the minor axis, its major diameter three times as great as that of the outer sphere.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer sphere 0.08, pores and bars 0.005; inner sphere 0.035; major axis of the ring 0.25, minor axis 0.2; thickness of the ring and the axial beams 0.012.

Habitat.—Indian Ocean, Sunda Strait, Rabbe; Station 200, surface.