62 



Echinogorgia Kölliker (in part). 



Echinogorgia Kölliker. Icones Histologicae, II, 1856, p. 136. 



Echinogorgia Verrill. Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Science, Vol. I, part 2, 



1867 — 71, p. 419. 

 Echinogorgia Kent, Wm. S. Monthly Microscopical Journal, Feb. 1870, p. 84. 

 Echinogorgia (in part) Wright and Studer. Challenger Reports, the Alcyonaria, 1889, p. 118. 



The original definition of this genus, as given by Kölliker, is as follows : 



"Primnoaceen mit horniger Axe, kleinen oberflächlichen stacheligen Kalkkörpern von 

 eigenthümlicher Form und wenig oder kaum entwickelten Kelchen". 



The other writers cited above have accepted this genus without modification. Wright 

 and Studer describe with some care the spicules of the genus. 



In the illustrations given by Kölliker of the typical spicules, nearly all of the figures 

 represent what appears to the present writer to be the real characteristic form which marks 

 the genus. They are all modifications of a type which consists essentially of a basal portion 

 which is embedded in the coenenchyma, and an exposed portion which stands free. The former 

 part is an irregular mass of tuberculated projections often assuming a radiate arrangement, 

 pointing outward and downward. The exposed part is usually composed of foHaceous projections, 

 which are more or less inflated and have a smooth surface, and project directly upward from 

 the centre of the basal portion. These inflated leaf-like expansions are often so clustered as to 

 resemble a half opened tulip or rose. 



Saville Kent has correctly figured and described this form of spicule, and recognizes 

 it as the characteristic form for the genus Echinogorgia. 



Aside from this, there is another widely different form in the genus as defined by Wright 

 and Studer. This is the unilateral spindle from which project, from one side, a number of 

 con.spicuous, heavy, thorn-like processes ; the typical spicules of the genus T/iesca, as accepted 

 by the present writer, who would include in the genus Echinogorgia only those species having 

 the peculiar spicules described above and figured by Kölliker as characteristic of the type 

 species of the genus. 



The definition for the genus Echinogorgia adopted in this work is as follows : — 

 Muriceids with verruciform calyces the walls of which contain spicules which consist of a basal 

 mass of foliaceous, irregularly branched, tuberculate projections radiating from a common centre, 

 above which arises the distal jjortion composed of one or more leaf-like expansions, which are 

 more or less inflated, and have a smooth surface without definite branches or tuberculations. 



The type of the genus is EcJiinogorgia pscudosassapo Kölliker. Other species would be 

 Echinogorgia atirantiaca Verrill, E. cerea (Esper), E. furfnracca (Esper), E. iimbratica (F2sper), 

 E. coarctica (Lamk.), E.fungifera (Lamk.), E. stricta (Lamk.), E.granifcra (Lamk.), E. nuiltispinosa 

 Thomson and Henderson, E. danaides (Val.), and the five new species found in the Siboga collection. 



I . Echinogorgia atirantiaca (Val.). 



Plexanra aiirantiaca Valentine. Compte-rendu, XII, p. 557. 



Leptogorgia atirantiaca I'^dwards et Haime. Histoire naturelle des Coralliaires, Vol. I, 1857, p. 182. 



