Report on the Radiolaria Collected by H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-1876, First Part: Porulosa (Spumellaria and Acantharia): Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-76, Vol. XVIIIHaeckel, Ernst
Science
Report on the Radiolaria Collected by H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-1876, First Part: Porulosa (Spumellaria and Acantharia): Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-76, Vol. XVIII
Haeckel, Ernst
Radiolaria
218. _Motion._--In addition to the internal movements which appear
generally in the unicellular Radiolaria and have already been mentioned as
plasmatic currents in treating of the circulation (§§ 207-209), two
different groups of external motor phenomena are to be observed in this
class: first, the _contraction_ of individual parts, which brings about
modifications of form (§ 220), and secondly, voluntary or reflex
_locomotion_ of the whole body (§ 220). These movements are partly due to
changes in form of undifferentiated plasmatic threads or sarcode filaments,
partly to the actual contraction of differentiated filaments which are
comparable to muscle fibrillæ, and must therefore be distinguished as
myophanes. In addition to this, endosmose and exosmose probably play an
important part in some of the locomotive phenomena, but nothing is yet
certainly known regarding these osmotic processes. We are at present
equally ignorant whether all the movements of the Radiolaria are simply
reflex (direct consequences of irritation) or whether they are in part
truly spontaneous.
219. _Suspension._--From direct observation of living Radiolaria, as well
as from deductive reasoning, based upon their morphology (and especially
their promorphology, §§ 17-50), the conclusion appears justified that all
Protista of this class in their normal condition float suspended in the
sea-water, either at the surface or at a definite depth. A necessary
condition of this hydrostatic suspension is that the specific gravity of
the Radiolarian organism must be equal to, or but slightly greater than
that of sea-water. The increase in specific gravity brought about by the
production of the siliceous skeleton, is compensated by the lighter fatty
globules, and partly perhaps by the calymma, especially when the latter
contains vacuoles or alveoles. The fluid or jelly contained in the latter
appears to be for the most part lighter than sea-water (containing no salt,
or only a very small quantity?). But if the specific gravity of the whole
body should be generally (or perhaps always) slightly greater than that of
sea-water, then the organism would be prevented from sinking, partly by the
increased friction, due to the radiating pseudopodia and the radial spines
usually present, and partly perhaps by active (if only feeble) movements of
the pseudopodia.
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