Calantica (pars generis). J. E. Gray. Annals of Philosophy, vol. x, (new series,) Aug. 1825.
Thaliella (pars generis). J. E. Gray. Proc. Zoolog. Soc., 1848.
Anatifa. Quoy et Gaimard. Voyage de l’Astrolabe, 1826-34.
Xiphidium (pars generis). Dixon. Geology of Suffolk, 1850.
(Herm. et Fœm.) Valvis 12 ad 15: lateribus verticilli inferioris quatuor vel sex, lineis incrementi plerumque convergentibus: sub-rostrum rarissime adest: pedunculo squamifero, rarissime nudo.
(Herm. and Fem.) Valves 12 to 15 in number: latera of the lower whorl, four or six, with their lines of growth generally directed towards each other: sub-rostrum very rarely present: peduncle squamiferous, most rarely naked.
Filamentary appendages, none: labrum, with the upper part highly bullate: trophi, various: olfactory orifices, more or less prominent: caudal appendages, uniarticulate and spinose, or none.
Males, parasitic at or near the orifice of the sack of the female or of the hermaphrodite: thorax enclosed within a capitulum, furnished with three or four rudimentary valves, or with six perfect valves: peduncle either short and distinct, or confounded with the capitulum: sometimes mouth and stomach absent, and cirri non-prehensile; sometimes mouth and cirri normal.
Generally attached to horny corallines, in the warmer temperate seas over the whole world.
I have felt much doubt in limiting this genus: the six recent species which it contains, differ more from each other than do the species in the previous genera. Mr. Gray has proposed or adopted generic names for four of the species, and a fifth certainly has equal claims to this same rank. These genera have been founded almost exclusively on the number of the valves; and oddly enough, the numbers have generally been given wrongly, namely, in Scalpellum, Calantica, Thaliella, and Xiphidium. Scalpellum blends through S. villosum into Pollicipes; and this latter genus has an equal right with Scalpellum, to be divided into sub-genera, three in number. Hence, no less than eight genera might be made out of the twelve recent species of Scalpellum and Pollicipes, and their formation, in some degree, be justified; but, in my opinion, this inordinate multiplication of genera destroys the main advantages of classification. At one time, I even thought that it would be best to follow Lamarck, and keep the twelve recent species in one genus; but considering the number of fossil species, I believe the more prudent course has been followed, in retaining the two genera Scalpellum and Pollicipes; more especially as I can hardly doubt, that several other species will be hereafter discovered.