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PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XX, April 1966 
contention that tentacular hydranths (Buchert’s 
line V) metamorphosed into atentacular hy- 
dranths (Buchert’s line II). Figure 12 is a 
diagram of a large tentacular hydranth which 
already has "absorbed” one row of its tentacles 
(which row would be pure speculation). Each 
tentacle is roughly 75 /x long and is further char- 
acterized by its swollen, almost spherical distal 
end. Because of the migration of nematocysts, 
these tentacles are extremely hyaline except dis- 
rally, where three or four nematocysts often re- 
225 p 
Fig. 12. Degeneration of tentacular hydranths. A, 
A large hydranth with but one row of tentacles; B, 
diagram of tentacular portion of hydranth with only 
two tentacles remaining in bottom row and six in top 
row; C, tentacular hydranth with only stublike ten- 
tacles remaining; and D, tentacular hydranth with 
only five, empty tentacle stubs remaining. 
main. Figure 12 B is a diagram of the tentacular 
portion of another hydranth in which only 2 
tentacles in the bottom row and 6 tentacles in 
the top row remain. Figure 12C is a diagram of 
a hydranth in which 10 stublike tentacles re- 
main, but it is difficult to determine which stub 
belongs to which row. All are completely de- 
void of nematocysts. In Figure 12 D only 5 
stubby tentacles remain and, again, all are per- 
fectly clear. 
In these and other examples hydranths, teem- 
ing with bacteria and protozoa, became milk- 
colored and in a few days disintegrated. Not 
once did loss of tentacles result in development 
of atentacular hydranths. 
Since neither (1) the ability of frustules or 
of frustule fragments of atentacular hydranths 
to produce tentacular hydranths nor ( 2 ) the 
ability of tentacular hydranths to metamorphose 
into atentacular hydranths can be demonstrated, 
the one-species concept lacks cogency. 
III. Calpasoma Dactyloptera in Hawaii 
To my knowledge, this species has been re- 
ported only by Fuhrmann (1939, Switzerland), 
Buchert (I960, Hungary), Lytle (I960, In- 
diana, USA), and Rohat ( 1961, Israel), but be- 
cause it is associated with C. sowerbyi it prob- 
ably will be found to be quite common. 
For the most part, Fuhrmann’s original de- 
scription (1939:365) fits well the Hawaiian 
representatives of this species. The general body 
size and shape, and the arrangement of the two 
rows of tentacles follow Fuhrmann’s description 
as do the number, size (8-9 g), and arrange- 
ment of nematocysts. 
In all likelihood Fuhrmann had not made a 
study of the life cycle, which probably accounts 
for his statement, "We have seen only isolated 
individuals. The polyp does not appear to re- 
produce by budding, but mainly by transverse 
division. In fact, we have seen several polyps 
which show a constriction in the middle of the 
body which appears to be the start of this phe- 
nomenon” [author’s translation]. It is also un- 
fortunate that Buchert, who studied the life 
cycle and observed the budding of spherules, 
frustules, and hydranths, failed to place these in 
the correct species, because of lack of isolation 
of cultures. 
