9i 
slightly curved; only the ultimate branches are straight or very nearly so. The mutual distance 
of the branches is irregular (2—4 mm.); the angle, at which they are inserted, is almost 90° 
or 6o°—90°. Very frequent fusions occur between the branches of every order. The branches 
of every order are always inserted laterally or sligthly antero-laterally. The length of the ultimate 
branches is a few mm. to 0.5 cm. 
I he spines (fig. 80) are long, aculeate and somewhat sinuous; their surface is practically 
smooth, but the top bears a little number of small knobs. The spines 
are somewhat distally inclined, and arranged in 6 longitudinal rows 
and a slanting quincunx, 
which remains regular on 
the older parts of the colony. 
n~ 
<2 Their mutual distance is 300 
p, which value is somewhat 
variable. There is a ofreat dif- 
Fig. So. Aphanipathes reticulata 
sp. n. Spines ; 52 X- 
Fig. 81. Aphanipathes reticulata sp. n. a Polyps on 
ultimate branch; h polyp on an older branch, c polyp 
on a principal, branch ; c 14 X- 
ference in length on opposite 
sides of the axis, viz. 270 p and 120 p. They project 
very far through the coenenchyma and the polyps. The 
length of the spines varies for neighbouring spines but 
never to such an extent that the spines are shorter in 
the interzooidal areas. 
I he polyps (figs. 81, 82) are principally placed on one side of the colony; on the 
principal branches they may be iound on both sides of the axis, but on the ultimate branches 
we very rarely find the polyps on the back of the colony. On the ultimate branches the polyps 
are mostly only visible as swellings of the coenenchyma (fig. 81 a) with indistinct tentacular 
circumferences. — On the principal branches (fig. 81 b , c ) the polyps are more distinct with 
much longer, cylindrical tentacles and a very low oral cone, with a small round mouth. On 
the branches of higher order the polyps are somewhat transversally 
elongated, which is visible in fig. 81 b , but on the principal branches 
the tentacles are radiate (fig. 81 c ). The spines project for a considerable 
distance through the polyps. — I he colour of the polyps is milkwhite 
to light yellowbrown. The interpolypar distance is ± 1 mm.; the length 
of the tentacles is 0.15 mm.; the diameter of the oral cone is 0.2 mm. 
None of the described Aphanipathes -species is to be identified with this species; the figures 
of the polyps given by Pourtales of Aphanipathes humilis and Aphanipathes thyoides are 
very like the polyps of this species but the mode of branching is entirely different. 
Diagnosis: 
Colony : Branched in a plane. All branches slightly curved, except the 
ultimate branches; mutual distance 2 to 4 mm.; length a few mm. to 0.5 cm.; 
angle 6o° to 90°. frequent fusions in all parts of the colony. 
Spines: Long, aculeate, sinuous, smooth with knobs on the apex, distally 
inclined; 6 longitudinal rows. Distance 300 p. Length 270 p and 120 p. 
Fig. S2. Aphanipathes reticulata 
sp. n. Polyp on ultimate branch; 
21 X- 
