272 



THE VOYAGE OF II.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



Fig. 107. — Japetetta prismatica, n. gen. et sp. : natural size. 



north of Papua (Japetetta diaphana). The genus Bolitcena, Stp., is perhaps the nearest 



ally of these two forms, but its differences 

 from them are many and important. 



"The genus Eledony furnished two new 

 species, both characterised by a short stumpy 

 contour and by arms webbed half-way to 

 the extremities ; one was obtained near the 

 Antarctic Circle, depth 1950 fathoms, the 

 other in the South Atlantic (Station 320) 

 from a depth of 600 fathoms ; while some 

 portions of a large Octopod, which were 

 picked up on the surface of the North 

 Atlantic, beyond all reasonable doubt once 

 formed part of an individual of the curious 

 Alloposus mollis, Verrill. 



" The Decapoda yielded, on the whole, 

 fewer striking novelties than the Octopoda. 

 One of the most curious is a small creature from the Southern Ocean, which has been 



called Bathyteuthis abyssicola (see fig. 108); it 

 measures about 5 cm. in length excluding the 

 tentacles ; the body is subcylindrical, tapering 

 to a blunt point behind, where are situated 

 two small rounded fins. The head is broad, 

 with prominent eyes, and there is a very large 

 oral membrane provided with suckers. The 

 arms are very short, the longest not quite 

 reaching 1 cm., and the suckers are minute 

 and arranged biserially ; the tentacles about 

 equal the body in length, and have no clubs, 

 but gradually taper to a point armed with 

 numerous very small suckers like those of 

 many Sepice. The funnel is provided with a 

 valve, and the pen resembles that of Omnia- 

 strcphes. 



" The structure of this form seems to adapt 



it for life at great depths, and to justify the 



belief that it really came from the depth 



reached by the dredge (1600 fathoms); the small fins are in marked contrast to 



those of pelagic species, while the small suckers and delicate tentacles are equally little 



Fig. 108. —Iiathyleuthis abyssicola, u. gen. et sp.( natural size. 



