A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 1 of 2): The Lepadidae; Or, Pedunculated CirripedesDarwin, Charles
Science
A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 1 of 2): The Lepadidae; Or, Pedunculated Cirripedes
Darwin, Charles
Cirripedia; Lepadidae
_Description._ The number of valves in the capitulum has in this genus
acquired its maximum. The number varies considerably in the same
species, and even on opposite sides of the same individual, and
generally increases with age. It is more important, that the number of
the whorls in _P. cornucopia_, and in the two following closely-allied
forms, also increases with age. In _P. sertus_ and _P. spinosus_, even
the number of the whorls varies in different individuals, independently
of age. The valves are arranged alternately with those above and below;
they are generally thick and strong, making the capitulum somewhat
massive; in some species they are subject to much disintegration; but in
others, the apices of the several valves, especially of the carina and
rostrum, are well preserved, and project freely: they are covered with
membrane, which, differently from in most species of Scalpellum, either
does not bear any spines, or only exceedingly minute points. In all the
species there is a sub-rostrum and sub-carina, and often beneath these a
second sub-rostrum and sub-carina. In medium-sized specimens there are
at least 20 valves in the lowermost whorl. The carina is either straight
or curved, but never rectangularly bent, and is always of considerable
breadth. None of the valves are added to at their upper ends. The scuta
have a deep pit for the adductor muscle. The valves lie either some
little way apart, or more commonly close together. In _P. mitella_ the
scuta and terga are locked together by a fold, and the valves of the
lower whorl overlap each other in a peculiar manner, resembling that in
which the compartments in the shells of Sessile Cirripedes fold over
each other.
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