Happon—The Actiniaria of Torres Straits. 487 
Actineria dendrophora, H. & S. 
Actineria dendrophora, Hadd. & Shackl., 1893, Proe. R. D. S. vur., p. 123. 
(Pl. XXV., figs. 7-9; Pl. XXXIL, figs. 1-4.) 
Form.—Column soft, with verruce in vertical lines corresponding to the exoccels 
on the upper portion of the column; base slightly expanded; parapet with small 
swellings for the exoccel chambers below the outer row of large dendritic ten- 
tacles ; oral disk greatly expanded, and irregularly folded or puckered, with its 
edge produced into lobes some 300 or 400 in number, and 10mm. in length; the 
distal two-thirds of the aboral aspect of the lobes is closely crowded with globular, 
pedunculated tentacles, the oral or upper surface being covered with ramified ten- 
tacles; these latter extend along the disk, in radial series, to a greater or less 
extent, but none reach the mouth; alternating with the lobes are comparatively 
large dendritic tentacles; these are more aborally situated than the lobes; disk 
smooth, inelined to be crateriform in the centre, non-contractile ; mouth rounded, 
on a cone with two gonidial grooves. 
Colour.—Column pinkish; disk translucent pinkish brown, with a delicate 
green sheen; mouth pale; capitate tentacles pink, with a cream-coloured speck 
on tip (they look just like pink pearls); dendritic tentacles of same colour as 
disk, but, owing to their round contour, the green sheen is more apparent, and 
this is especially so on the finer branches, which thus appear decidedly green ; 
pedal disk cream colour. 
Dimensions.—Column height about 70 mm. (2? in.); diameter 45-50 mm, ; 
diameter of disk 125 mm. (6 in.). 
Habitat.—Surface of reef, Mer. 
This species is quite distinct from the only hitherto described species of the 
genus A. villosa (Quoy et Gaim.). The specific name is derived from the numerous 
small tree-like tentacles on the disk. 
The marginal lobes are prolongations of the endoccels, there being no ten- 
tacles in the exoccels except the outermost large dendritic tentacles. I could not 
observe in the living animal the symmetry and multiples of the radii, partly 
because of the incipient fission, but more particularly, as is usual with these 
species with dendritic tentacles, on account of their apparent irregularity. 
The body-wall is strengthened by a thick layer of mesogloea ; the endoderm 
contains zooxanthellae, which are especially abundant in the tentacles. 
The sphincter muscle consists of a large number of long, fine, slightly-branched 
plaits, which arise from a thick quadrate protuberance of the mesoglea. Two 
