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Clathrocorys murrayi
Haeckel, 1887
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Description - Add description
Clathrocorys murrayi:
Cephalis pear-shaped, with irregularly square pores. From the centre of its base there arise four
strong, prismatic, radial beams of nearly equal size, the vertical, straight, cephalic horn being little
longer than the three divergent, somewhat curved feet. In the three meridional planes (between the
horn and each foot) a few rather thick branches arise, which by communication of the ramules form
the three vertical latticed wings; each wing with two large meshes, three to five meshes of medium size, and three to four parallel arachnoidal rows of small, square, distal meshes. The three walls of the flat pyramidal thorax (between every two feet) are formed in the upper part by squarish network similar to that of the cephalis, in the middle part by a single row of arches separated by thin threads, and in the lower part by a narrow band of arachnoidal network. Dedicated to Dr. John
Murray.
Dimensions.-Cephalis 0.05 long, 0.05 broad; thorax 0.04 long, 0.15 broad; apical distance of
every two feet 0.15, of each foot and the horn 0.17.
Habitat.-Central Pacific, Station 271, depth 2425 fathoms.
| | Haeckel 1887 | Benson, 1966, p. 391-394; pl. 25, figs. 13-15:
Clathrocorys murrayi Haeckel
Clathrocorys murrayi Haeckel, 1887, Challenger Rept., Zool., vol. 18, pp. 1219-1220, Pl. 64, fig. 8; Popofsky, 1913, Deutsche Südpolar-Exped., vol. 14, pp. 352-353, Pl. 32, figs. 2, 3.
Cephalis helmet-shaped, smooth to slightly spinose, lobate in a few specimens, with subcircular to elliptical, unequal pores separated by wide intervening bars; in a few specimens cephalis nearly hyaline. Cephalis separated from thorax by a definite stricture occupied by the collar ring. Thorax not fully developed in most tests; developed between the three-bladed dorsal and primary lateral feet which generally are not straight but have a slight outward convexity; in a few specimens feet are straight, very long, and with spines originating from their blades but with thorax absent or incompletely developed. Thorax generally broadly conical when present; in a few specimens with a lower cylindrical portion not attached to the feet. Basic structure of thorax consisting of irregular but small-pored lattice developed distally from arched bars with downward convexity that are present between adjacent feet. Above each of the arched bars is a large hole or gate in the thorax which in some specimens is filled with a secondary lattice. Three keels, similar in arrangement, shape and origin of those of Callimitra emmae Haeckel are present in various stages of development. Their basic structure is similar to that of the thorax--a lattice developed distally from large arched bars surrounding large pores or gates in the proximal portions of the keels. In each keel there are two large gates, one defined by an arch extending from the three-bladed apical horn to the upper part of the cephalis and a second defined by an arch extending between the lower half of the cephalis and the proximal portion of the foot at the node where the arched bars of the thorax originate; above the former large gate a smaller, subtriangular gate or pore is present; between the two large gates another small gate is present in some tests; distally from these gates a reticulate network is present and consists of long, thin bars parallel to the convex outward margin of the keel and intersected by bars radiating from the arched bars surrounding the gates; therefore, the meshwork consists of small, subrectangular to rhombic pores. Basic structure of cephalis including apical bar, collar pores, and ribs in the cephalic wall the same as in Callimitra emmae Haeckel. The vertical bar is very thin if present and is absent in a few tests. Vertical spine three-bladed to conical, in a few specimens with short branches.
Measurements; based on 10 specimens from stations 81, 106, 115, and 151: height of cephalis 28-43 µm; length of thorax 31-64 µm; breadth of cephalis 37-55 µm, of thorax 90-153 µm; length of apical horn 26-68 µm, of feet (length of chord between origin and distal termination) 53-162 µm.
Remarks. Most specimens of this species are incompletely developed and, therefore, difficult to identify. Many are similar to incompletely developed specimens of Clathrocanium cf. coronatum Popofsky but are distinguished by having thinner and longer basal feet that are more or less convex outward. Those of C. cf. coronatum are stout, relatively short and straight.
Only a few specimens have the latticed keels developed between the apical horn and the basal spines. These were identified as Clathrocorys murrayi Haeckel. In several specimens the large gates or holes between the basal spines are filled with a slightly convex outward lattice, but the convex downward arched bar between adjacent spines is visible. In a few tests a cylindrical latticed joint is partially developed below these arched ribs and not joined to the basal feet. In most specimens the keels and thoracic lattice are lacking, the test consisting of the cephalis with apical horn and three basal feet that have numerous branches originating from each blade.
Distribution. This species is nearly cosmopolitan but rare in the Gulf. It is absent at stations 90, 95, 99, 130, 184, 194, and all those to the north. It has a greater frequency in the diatomite facies of the northern Gulf; therefore, its distribution is influenced by upwelling in this region. Its general absence at marginal stations indicates that it is an offshore, more nearly oceanic species.
Haeckel (1887, p. 1220) reported this species from the central Pacific at "Challenger" station 271. Popofsky (1913, p. 353) reported it from the western tropical part of the Indian Ocean. Its absence at high latitudes indicates that it is a tropical species.
| | Benson 1966 |
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