Genus EPHELOTA Str. Wright '78.
(Bütschli '88; Ishikawa '96; Sand '98.)
Small to medium-sized and large forms; colorless to brown. The body is globular or oval or wedge-shape, sometimes quadrangular. The stalk is variable, sometimes 1 mm. in length. The diameter of the stalk increases from the point of attachment to the body of the animal; it is usually striated either longitudinally or transversely, or both. The tentacles are of two kinds and are usually confined to the anterior half of the body. Some are long and sharp-pointed and adapted for piercing; others are short, cylindrical, usually retracted and capitate, adapted for sucking. Contractile vacuoles vary from one to many. The macronucleus is nearly central in position and usually of horseshoe shape, but is frequently branched and irregular. Reproduction is accomplished by external multiple budding, usually from the anterior half of the body. Salt water.
Ephelota coronata Str. Wright. Fig. 66.
Synonyms: Hemiophrya gemmipara S. K.; Podophrya gemmipara Hertwig.
The body is spheroidal, ovate, or pyriform, with numerous sharp-pointed tentacles and a few straight, uniform tentacles. The stalk is about three times the length of the body and tapers from its widest part at the insertion in the body to the narrowest part at the point of attachment. It may or may not be longitudinally striated. This is one of the commonest of the Suctoria found at Woods Hole. It is usually present on Campanularian hydroids, but may be found on algæ and Bryozoa.
Length of body 90µ to 200µ.
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Fig. 66.— Ephelota coronata. [ ENLARGE ] |
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