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

Definition.—Staurosphærida with two concentric spherical lattice-shells.

Genus 63. Staurolonche, Haeckel, 1881, Prodromus, p. 451.

Definition.—Staurosphærida with two concentric lattice-spheres and four crossed, equal, simple spines.

The genus Staurolonche may be derived either from Staurosphæra by the duplication of the lattice-sphere, or from Carposphæra by the production of four crossed radial spines, lying in one meridional plane, or from Hexalonche by the reduction of two opposite spines.

Subgenus 1. Staurolonchantha, Haeckel.

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

1. Staurolonche hexagona, n. sp.

Haliomma hexagonum, Ehrenberg, 1854, Mikrogeol., Taf. xxxvb., Bd. iv. fig. 17.

Haliomma hexagonum, Haeckel, 1862, Monogr. d. Radiol., p. 434.

Cortical shell thin walled, smooth, three times as broad as the medullary shell, with regular, hexagonal pores, four times as broad as the bars; seven to eight on the quadrant. Four spines three-sided pyramidal, somewhat longer than the radius, as broad at the base as one mesh.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.12, inner 0.04; cortical pores 0.012, bars 0.003; length of the spines 0.08.

Habitat.—North Atlantic, Station 64, depth 2700 fathoms.

2. Staurolonche spinozæ, n. sp.

Cortical shell thick walled, smooth, twice as broad as the medullary shell, with regular, circular, hexagonally framed pores, three times as broad as the bars; five to six on the quadrant. Four spines three-sided pyramidal, half as long as the radius, as broad at the base as one mesh.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.16, inner 0.08; cortical pores 0.012, bars 0.004; length of the spines 0.04.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 271, surface.

3. Staurolonche aperta, Haeckel.

Haliomma apertum, Ehrenberg, 1875, Abhandl. d. k. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, p. 74, Taf. xxviii. fig. 5.

Cortical shell thin walled, smooth, three times as broad as the medullary shell; pores regular, circular, five times as broad as the bars; four to five on the quadrant. Four spines conical, as long as the radius, as broad as one mesh.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.1, inner 0.03; cortical pores 0.015, bars 0.003; length of the spines 0.05.

Habitat.—Fossil in Barbados.

4. Staurolonche brunonis, n. sp.

Cortical shell thick walled, smooth, twice as broad as the medullary shell, with regular, circular pores, three times as broad as the bars; eight to ten on the quadrant. Four spines cylindro-conical, longer than the diameter, twice as broad as one mesh.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.08, inner 0.04; cortical pores 0.006, bars 0.002; length of the spines 0.12.

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

5. Staurolonche pertusa, n. sp. (Pl. , figs. 5, 5a).

Cortical shell thin walled, smooth, three times as broad as the medullary shell, with regular, circular pores, three times as broad as the bars; eight to ten on the quadrant. Pores of the medullary shell only one-third as large, also circular. Four spines three-sided prismatic, three times as long as the radius; each of their three thin wings perforated by a single row of small pores.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.1, inner 0.033; cortical pores 0.01, bars 0.003; length of the spines 0.15.

Habitat.—North Atlantic, Station 353, surface.

Subgenus 2. Staurolonchella, Haeckel.

Definition.—Pores of the cortical shell regular, and of nearly equal size and similar form; surface covered with by-spines or thorns.

6. Staurolonche straussii, n. sp.

Cortical shell thin walled, four times as broad as the medullary shell, and covered with numerous bristle-shaped by-spines, half as long as the radius. Pores regular, circular, hexagonally framed, twice as broad as the bars; six to eight on the radius. On each hexagonal frame twelve by-spines (six at the corners, six in the middle between them). Four main spines six-sided pyramidal, about as long as the radius, twice as broad as one mesh.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.16, inner 0.04; cortical pores 0.016, bars 0.008; length of the spines 0.1.

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

7. Staurolonche feuerbachii, n. sp.

Cortical shell thick walled, five times as broad as the medullary shell, and covered with short conical by-spines. Pores regular, circular, twice as broad as the bars; twenty to twenty-two on the quadrant. Four main spines three-sided prismatic, with pyramidal apex, two to three times as long as the radius, twice as broad as one mesh.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.27, of the inner 0.055; cortical pores 0.008, bars 0.004; length of the spines 0.3 to 0.4.

Habitat.—Fossil in Barbados.

8. Staurolonche moleschottii, n. sp.

Cortical shell thick walled, three times as broad as the medullary shell, and covered with short conical by-spines. Pores regular, circular, of the same breadth as the bars; fourteen to sixteen on the quadrant. Four main spines conical, as long as the radius, three times as broad at the base as one mesh.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.15, inner 0.05; cortical pores and bars 0.004; length of the spines 0.08.

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

Subgenus 3. Staurolonchissa, Haeckel.

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

9. Staurolonche holbachii, n. sp.

Cortical shell thin walled, with smooth surface, three times as broad as the medullary shell. Pores irregular, polygonal, twice to four times as broad as the bars. Four main spines three-sided prismatic, longer than the shell diameter.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.12, inner 0.04; cortical pores 0.006 to 0.012, bars 0.003; length of the spines 0.15.

Habitat.—South Pacific, Station 295, depth 1500 fathoms.

10. Staurolonche gassendii, n. sp.

Cortical shell thick walled, with smooth surface, four times as broad as the medullary shell. Pores irregular, roundish, three to five times as broad as the bars. Four main spines conical, as long as the radius.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.2, inner 0.05; cortical pores 0.01 to 0.02, bars 0.004; length of the spines 0.1.

Habitat.—North Atlantic, Station 353, depth 2965 fathoms.

Subgenus 4. Staurolonchura, Haeckel.

Definition.—Pores of the cortical shell irregular, of different size or form; surface covered with by-spines or thorns.

11. Staurolonche epicurii, n. sp.

Cortical shell thick walled, five times as broad as the medullary shell, and covered with numerous bristle-shaped by-spines (half as long as the radius). Pores irregular, roundish, polygonally framed, twice to three times as broad as the bars. Four main spines pyramidal, as long as the radius.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.22, inner 0.044; cortical pores 0.02 to 0.04, bars 0.012; length of the spines 0.1.

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

12. Staurolonche lucretii, n. sp.

Cortical shell thick-walled, three times as broad as the medullary shell, and covered with numerous short, conical thorns. Pores irregular, roundish, twice to four times as broad as the bars. Four main spines conical, half as long as the radius.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.15, inner 0.05; cortical pores 0.015 to 0.03, bars 0.008; length of the spines 0.04.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 265, depth 2900 fathoms.

Genus 64. Staurancistra, Haeckel, 1881, Prodromus, p. 451.

Definition.—Staurosphærida with two concentric lattice-spheres and four crossed, equal, branched spines.

The genus Staurancistra differs from its ancestral form, Staurolonche, in the ramification of the four crossed spines.

1. Staurancistra quadricuspis, n. sp.

Cortical shell thin walled, with rough, thorny surface, and irregular, roundish pores, twice to four times as broad as the bars; six to eight on the quadrant. Medullary shell one-third as large, with regular, circular pores; connected with the cortical shell by four crossed radial beams. These are prolonged outside into four strong three-sided prismatic spines, nearly as long as the shell diameter, each having three curved branches below the distal end. (Similar to Hexancistra quadricuspis, Pl. , fig. 11, but with only four spines.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the cortical shell 0.16, of the medullary shell 0.05; pores of the former 0.06 to 0.012, bars 0.003; length of the spines 0.14, breadth 0.012.

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

Genus 65. Staurolonchidium, n. gen.

Definition.—Staurosphærida with two concentric lattice-spheres and four crossed simple spines which are disposed in two different pairs, two opposite being larger than the other two.

The genus Staurolonchidium has arisen from Staurolonche by the stronger growth of the two opposite spines, the other two remaining stationary; both spines of each pair equal.

1. Staurolonchidium artioscelides, n. sp.

Cortical shell thin walled, with smooth surface, three times as broad as the medullary shell. Pores regular, circular, hexagonally framed, twice as broad as the bars; eight to ten on the quadrant. Four radial spines three-sided pyramidal, as broad as one mesh; two opposite larger spines three times as long as the two smaller, which are about equal to the radius.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the cortical shell 0.16, medullary shell 0.05; pores of the former 0.012, bars 0.006; length of the major spines 0.24, minor 0.08.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 265, surface.

2. Staurolonchidium perspicuum, Haeckel.

Haliomma perspicuum, Ehrenberg, 1875, Abhandl. d. k. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, p. 74, Taf. xxix. fig. 1.

Cortical shell thin walled, covered with small conical by-spines, five times as broad as the medullary shell. Pores regular, circular, eight times as broad as the bars; three to four on the quadrant. Four radial spines three-sided pyramidal, scarcely one-third as broad as one mesh; two opposite larger spines four times as long as the two smaller, which are about equal to half the radius.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the cortical shell 0.12, medullary shell 0.025; pores of the former 0.03, bars 0.004; length of the major spines 0.12, minor 0.03.

Habitat.—Fossil in Barbados.

Genus 66. Stauroxiphos, n. gen.

Definition.—Staurosphærida with two concentric lattice-spheres and four crossed simple spines, one of which is much larger than the other three.

The genus Stauroxiphos differs from its ancestral form, Staurolonche, in the greater development of one single spine, and exhibits therefore the same relation to it that Stylostaurus bears to Staurosphæra.

1. Stauroxiphos gladius, n. sp. (Pl. , fig. 7).

Cortical shell thick walled, smooth, three times as broad as the medullary shell. Pores of the outer shell regular, circular, regularly six-lobed on the outer opening, four times as broad as the bars; about six on the quadrant. Pores of the inner shell only one-third as large, simple, circular. Three of the four radial spines of nearly equal size, pommel-shaped, with three prominent, dentated wings, somewhat shorter than the shell radius and about half as broad as long; the fourth spine much larger, sword-like, about three times as long as the shell radius.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.12, of the inner 0.04; pores of the former 0.01, bars 0.0025; pores of the latter 0.003, bars 0.001; length of the major spine 0.18, of the three minor 0.04.

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