Shape of bell almost exactly that of a cube with rounded edges; the roof
but little arched. The horizontal constriction commonly seen near the
top of the bell in the Cubomedusæ not present. Proboscis with four oral
lobes; hanging down in the bell cavity generally more than half the depth
of the cavity and at times even to the bell margin. In the gelatine of
the proboscis an irregular number (15-21) of sensory organs resembling
otocysts, from the presence of which comes the specific name. Phacelli
brush-shaped, composed of from seven to thirteen filaments springing from
a single stalk in each quadrant, or rarely from two separate stalks in
one of the quadrants. Distance of the sensory clubs from the bell margin
about one-fifth or one-fourth of the height of bell. Breadth of velarium
about one-sixth the diameter of bell at margin; with six velar canals in
each quadrant; the canals simple, unforked. Pedalia flattened, shaped
like a slender knife blade, about half as long as the height of the
bell. Tentacles at greatest extension observed two and a half times the
length of pedalia. Sexes separate. Height of bell in largest specimens
(reproductive elements mature) eight or nine mm. Breadth same as height
or even greater. Color a light yellowish brown, due in large part to eggs
or embryos in the stomach pockets. The reproductive organs especially
prominent by reason of their similar color. Found in Kingston Harbor,
Jamaica.
It will be seen from the above that Tripedalia possesses two of the
characteristics of the Charybdeidæ and two of the Chirodropidæ. The
family was named from the prominent feature of the arrangement of the
tentacles, in groups of three with separate pedalia. The small size of
T. cystophora is worthy of note in connection with the fact that of the
twenty species of Cubomedusæ given by Haeckel in his “System” only two
are smaller than 20 mm. in height, and those are the two representatives
of Haeckel’s genus Procharagma, the prototype form of the Cubomedusæ,
without pedalia and without velarium. While Tripedalia has both pedalia
and velarium, it may be perhaps that its small size, taken in connection
with characteristics just about midway between the Charybdeidæ and the
Chirodropidæ, indicate that it is not a recently acquired form of the
Cubomedusæ.
PART II: GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ANATOMY OF THE CUBOMEDUSÆ.
A: CHARYBDEA XAYMACANA.
a. _Environment and habit of life._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account