NARCOMEDUSiE — SOLMUNDELLA. 



455 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



iEginidae with only 2 functional, diametrically opposite tentacles. With 4 radial fur- 

 rows and peronia. The central stomach gives rise to 8 peripheral outpocketings, 2 in each 

 quadrant, between the radial furrows. No peripheral, gastrovascular canals. 



The generic name Campanella of de Blainville, 1834, was applied to Eucopidae as well as 

 to our Sohnundella, and its future use by authors was so confusing that it seems impossible 

 to attach any definite significance to the name. Moreover, it was preoccupied for Infusoria by 

 Goldfuss, 1820, so that it must lapse into the list of obsolete genera among medusae. Haeckel, 

 1879, first defined Solmundella in the sense in which we have accepted it; but he also instituted 

 another genus "Mginella" resembling Solmundella, but with a peripheral canal-system. The 

 brothers Hertwig, Maas, Browne, Vanhoffen, and the author have sectioned these^ medusae and 

 have demonstrated that there are no peronial or ring-canals, hence the genus "Mginella" is 

 identical with Solmundella. 



The genus Mginopsis Brandt has been used by older authors to designate our Solmun- 

 della, but Brandt founded Mginopsis for a medusa with 4 tentacles, 8 double, peronial strands, 

 and 16 radiating stomach-pouches; and it therefore differs widely from Solmundella. (See 



text-fig. 309a.) 



There appear to be but two forms of Solmundella and these are probably only varieties 

 one of the other. Both are of world-wide distribution near the surface over all tropical 

 oceans. As they develop directly through actinulae and the larvae are free-swimming, they are 

 found far out in the midst of the ocean, being in no sense dependent upon land. The develop- 

 ment is discussed in detail under Solmundella mediterranea. 



The following table will serve to exhibit the distinctions between these two forms: 



Synopsis of the Two Varieties of Sohnundella. 



Shape and size of 

 bell when mature. 

 Dimensions in mm 



Length of the 2 long 

 tentacles in mm. 



Character of 4 pero- 

 nial furrows. 



Where found. 



S. bitentaculata. 



12 to 15 mm. wide, crest of 

 bell keel-like and tentacular 

 diameter longer than inter- 

 tentacular diameter. Edge 

 of keel-shaped apex of bell 

 in tentacular axis. 



2 furrows in radii of long ten- 

 tacles very deep, while the 

 two furrows 90° away from 

 former partially closed over, 

 so that peronial strands are 

 sunken in gelatinous sub- 

 stance of bell. 



Tropical Atlantic, Indian, Pa- 

 cific, and Antarctic Oceans, 

 (Mediterranean ?). 



S. mediterranea. 



4 to 6 mm. wide. Radially 

 symmetrical, tentacular and 

 intertentacular diameter 

 being equal each to each. 

 Apex of bell dome-like, 

 evenly rounded. 



10 to 18 



The 4 peronial furrows all 

 open, and peronial strands 

 lie at bottom, and not sunk- 

 en within gelatinous sub- 

 stance of bell. 



Mediterranean, tropical At- 

 lantic, Pacific, Antarctic, 

 and Indian Oceans. 



Solmundella bitentaculata Browne. 



Charybdea bitentaculata, Qtov et Ga.mard, 1S33, Voyage de VAuralaU, tome 4, p. 295, planche 25, figs. 4 and 5. 



¥.-inella bitentaculata, Haeckel, 1879, Syst. der Medusen, p. 341. ,..„.,- t c 



Solmundella hensenii (Mginopsis hensenii), Maas, .893, Ergeb. der Plankton Exped.t.on , Bd. 1, K.c p 55, taf. 5 fig. II. 



Sohnundella bitentaculata, Maas, 1906, Revue Suisse Zool., tome 4, p. 99-Maas, .905, Craspedoten Medusen der Stboga Ex- 

 pedition, Monog. .0, p. 73, taf. n, fig. 74; taf. 12, fig. 75; taf. , 3> fign. 86-8 9 .-BRowN r .904, Fauna and Geog.Mald.ve 

 and Laccadive Archipelagoes, vol. 2, p. 74 i, plate 56, fig. 3; Ibid., 1905, Report on Pearl Oyster Fisheries, Gulf of Manaar, 

 Roy Soc. London, Suppl. Report No. 27, p. 1 53, plate 4, figs. ,-6.-Vanhoffen, 1908, Narcomedusen der V aldwta Expedi- 

 tion, p. 45, taf. 3, fign. 11-15; Bigelow, H.B., 1909, Mem. Mus. Comp.Zool. at Harvard College, vol. 37, p. 77, P'ate 2, 

 fig-3- 



Bell 12 to 15 mm. wide, 10 to 12 mm. high, gelatinous substance thick; apex of bell 

 sharp-edged and keel-shaped, the line of the keel being in the axis of the two long tentacles. 

 Bell wider in axis of keel and tentacles than in the diameter 90 from this. The 2 tapering 

 tentacles project from the sides of bell at a zone nearer to apex than to margin; they are 50 to 



36 



