7. Anthozoa (incl. Hydrocorallia). A. Zoantharia. 11 



then settle on the sides of the body of this or another adult whose ectoderm 

 forms, by reason of stimulation, a low rampart around the base of the young 

 animal thus producing a protective contrivance. 



Doderlein describes the characters of the genus Fungia and its 7 sub- 

 divisions. (1) Patella group containing the most primitive species, all dis- 

 tinguished by their small size, solid walls and having costal and septal teeth 

 scarcely perceptible to the naked eye. Some of the species (patella, distorta] 

 show a characteristic dimorphism [see below]. Of recent species the author 

 supports only patella, erosa n., distorta, cydolites, and ekgans. This group, 

 which represented the genus in cretaceous rocks, is at the present time distri- 

 buted over the whole area in which F. is found, but penetrates to lower 

 depths than other F. From this group all other F. are derivable. (2) Actini- 

 formis group. The costse are of equal height with very finely toothed border, 

 the septal teeth are large, the wall imperforate with large sharply-defined scar. 

 (3) Scutaria group. There is a tendency to elongation of the disc in the 

 same direction as that of the mouth opening, but the disc only occasionally 

 attains a length equal to twice its breadth. The costal teeth remain small, 

 the septal teeth are small and the perforation of the disc is only peripheral: 

 paumotensis, scutaria, oahensis n., and also proechinata n. in which however there 

 are large septal teeth; this form leads directly to the (4) Echinata group. The 

 members of this group show an extreme development in all directions, viz. their 

 huge dimensions, extraordinary elongate form, etc. The following groups form 

 the third subdivision, whose principal character is the tendency to unequal de- 

 velopment of the rows of spines which represent costse, among which a number 

 may be distinguished as principal by their stronger development. (5) Repanda 

 group. The costse are represented by close series of spines. Here belong 

 granulata, scabra n., plana, concinna and repanda. (6) In the Danai group 

 the unequal development of the costse reaches its maximum, while the princi- 

 pal costae retain their very powerful fringe of teeth, the smaller costse are 

 quite without. All the species, viz. subrepanda n. (forming a transition since 

 rudimentary teeth are present on the small costae), Danai, corona n., scruposa, 

 acutidens, horrida, Klunx,ingeri n. and valida, have large costal thorns and 

 septal teeth. (7) Fungites group. There is a tendency to development of 

 smoother pointed thorns of club-, tooth-, or awl-shaped form. This group is 

 most closely related to repanda. Asexual reproduction. Branched stocks 

 (Anthocormus) are only so far known in fungites and actiniformis. The author 

 has found Anthoblasts in acutidens and Danai, Anthocyathus in patella and 

 Khmxmgeri. Formation of buds takes place on the thorny under side of adult 

 fungites, and as the underside of a F. corresponds to the outer wall of other 

 corals, this is a case of true lateral budding; similar buds were found in a 

 fungites also on the septa near the margin of the mouth; these are probably 

 calical buds. By repeated fission wedge-shaped pieces are produced, separate 

 and grow into disc-like Fungias. The characteristic lappetted forms with su- 

 tures (the genus Diaseris of Milne Edwards) are early stages in this process 

 which the author describes in patella. This is a dimorphic species as besides 

 adult examples with regular simple discs (Cycloseris-form) there are autotomic 

 examples (Diaseris). The latter arise from the former, the disc being divided 

 by sutures into several pieces and concurrently the margin of the disc be- 

 coming lappetted. A slight shock suffices to cause these pieces to fall apart, 

 and then each piece may grow until it forms a complete disc. The regene- 

 ration begins by formation of a mouth and then extends in a radial direction. 

 The regenerated disc may divide into wedge-shaped pieces. The mother-piece 



Zool. Jahresbericht. 1901. Coelenterata. C 



