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
In addition to the treasures of the Challenger, my own collection of
Radiolaria has yielded many new forms whose description is here included.
On my journeys to the Mediterranean (an account of which is given in the
introduction to my Monograph of the Medusæ), I have given special attention
to these delicate microscopic organisms for more than thirty years. Besides
the various points on the Mediterranean, the Atlantic Ocean at the Canaries
(in the winter of 1866-67) yielded many interesting new forms; whilst my
voyage across the Indian Ocean, from Aden to Bombay, in November 1881,
thence to Ceylon and back by Socotra in March 1882, was still more
productive. In particular, some extended excursions which I had the
opportunity of making from Belligemma and Matura (at the southern extremity
of Ceylon) gave me an insight into the rich treasures of the Indian Ocean.
Most important, however, as regards the knowledge of the Indian Radiolaria,
are the collections which Captain Heinrich Rabbe of Bremen has so
beautifully preserved during his many voyages through that region. In the
neighbourhood of Madagascar and the Cocos Islands more especially, and also
in the Sunda Archipelago, he met with large swarms of Radiolaria, among
which were many new and remarkable forms. These were of special value for
completing the chorology, and the more so since the course of the
Challenger in the Indian Ocean lay very far to the southwards. I will
therefore take this opportunity of repeating my best thanks to Captain
Rabbe for the friendly donation of his valuable collection.
The Radiolarian fauna of the North Atlantic Ocean, which was previously but
little known and only slightly increased by the investigations of the
Challenger, received a valuable increase from the interesting collections
made by Dr. John Murray on various expeditions to the Færöe Islands (on the
"Knight Errant" in 1880 and on the "Triton" in 1882). A large number of new
Radiolaria were captured in the Færöe Channel, partly at the surface of the
Gulf Stream, partly at various depths, and the proof was thus furnished
that at certain points in the North Atlantic Ocean Radiolaria are very
richly developed. I am further indebted to Dr. John Murray for the free use
of this important material as well as for much other assistance in the
carrying out of my work. Another rich source of Radiolaria I found in the
alimentary canal of pelagic animals from all seas. Medusæ, Siphonophoræ,
Salpæ, Pteropoda, Heteropoda, Crustacea, &c., which live partly at the
surface of the sea and partly at various depths, and swallow large masses
of Radiolaria, often contain numbers of their shells well-preserved in
their intestine. The alimentary canal of Fishes and Cephalopods too, which
live upon these pelagic animal frequently contains considerable quantities
of siliceous shells; and another newly discovered source has been found in
the coprolites of the Jurassic period, which consist largely of Radiolarian
skeletons.
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