Definition.—Phæodaria with a big spherical (sometimes polyhedral or ellipsoidal), very coarse shell, which is composed of thick bars containing an axial canal. Nodal points of the coarse network without astral septa. Meshes of moderate size, irregularly polygonal. Surface of the shell usually with radial spines and pyramidal elevations. No peculiar mouth in the shell. Central capsule tripylean, in the centre of the shell.
The family Orosphærida comprises those Phæodaria which possess a simple spherical or polyhedral lattice-shell, composed of hollow, very thick, non-articulate rods, without a peculiar shell-mouth. They agree in the considerable size of the spherical lattice-shell and the absence of a peculiar shell-mouth with the other Phæosphæria, but differ from them in the coarse and irregular shape of the massive network, which is composed of irregular polygonal meshes, separated by very thick concentrically stratified rods, containing a fine axial canal. The closely allied Sagosphærida differ from them in the delicate shape of the solid and very thin, filiform rods of the network, and its subregular triangular meshes. The Aulosphærida differ in the development of the peculiar nodal cavities and astral septa, by which the thin-walled cylindrical tubes of the articulated network are separated in the stellate nodal points. The Cannosphærida, closely allied to these latter, also differ in the articulated network, and further in the possession of an internal concentric shell. The Castanellida are sometimes similar to the Orosphærida, but distinguished by a peculiar large shell-mouth and a network of different shape.
The Orosphærida belong to the biggest Radiolaria, and the lattice-work of their spherical shell is of a ruder and coarser shape than in any of the other families of this class. Nevertheless they have been hitherto perfectly unknown, and were first discovered by the Challenger. We have been able to distinguish in the collection four genera and twenty-seven species. This strange fact may be explained by the circumstance, that they are in general rare, and restricted to a few localities, and that probably all the species are inhabitants of great depths. Complete shells also are rarely found, whilst broken fragments of their big shells, easily recognisable by the coarse irregular meshes and the thick stratified bars, are met with frequently in the Radiolarian ooze of some Pacific Stations, especially at Stations 265 and 268, at a depth of 2900 fathoms.
The lattice-shell of the Orosphærida is usually spherical, or an endospherical polyhedron (Pl. [106], fig. 4); rarely one axis is somewhat prolonged, so that the shell becomes slightly ellipsoidal (Pl. [106], fig. 1). Its diameter is usually between 2 and 3, often also between 2 and 1 mm., rarely more than 3, or less than 1 mm. The largest shells observed attained 5 to 6, the smallest 0.5 to 0.6 mm. Their general habit is very characteristic, so that they may be easily distinguished from all other spherical lattice-shells, especially from the Castanellida and from the simple Monosphærida (Cenosphæra, Acanthosphæra), with which I confounded them in the beginning (hence the first shell observed, figured in 1878, was placed among the Monosphærida in Pl. [12]). A closer examination of the coarse network and of the peculiar structure of its thick bars always enables one to recognise even small isolated fragments of broken shells.
The meshes of the coarse network exhibit in all observed Orosphærida a very irregular form and unequal size; the majority are usually more or less quadrangular, more rarely they are triangular, pentagonal or hexagonal, very rarely rounded. They are often arranged in parallel rows, which seem to be determined by prominent crests, connecting the bases of the radial spines (Pl. [12], fig. 1; Pl. [106], fig. 4, &c.). The diameter of the meshes is usually between 0.05 and 0.1, often 0.1 to 0.2, rarely more than 0.25, or less than 0.025 mm. In Oroplegma, which develops an outer loose, spongy shell around the inner primary shell, the big meshes of the former become much larger and very irregular (Pl. [107], fig. 1).
The coarse bars which separate the large meshes of the irregular network are very thick and massive, cylindrical, usually of unequal thickness, straight or slightly curved, never angular or prismatic. Their diameter is usually between 0.01 and 0.02, rarely more than 0.03 or less than 0.005 mm. Their surface is either smooth or slightly spinulate. Examined in the dry state and by strong lenses, they constantly exhibit a fine, but distinct longitudinal striation, as the expression of concentric stratification. A fine axial canal or central tubule is usually visible in the axis of each rod, and often this axial canal is studded with numerous short lateral branches (Pl. [107], figs. 2, 4, 8). But very often the axial canals become rudimentary or lost, or are developed only in a part of the bars (Pl. [12], fig. 1). When they are completely developed, the entire network of the shell is drained by a reticulate system of communicating axial canals; they are probably filled by jelly in the living body. This tubular system never attains that regularity and high development which is constantly found in the Aulosphærida; and the characteristic stellate nodal points of the latter, with their astral septa, are never found in any of the Orosphærida. Moreover the wall of the tubular bars is very thin and structureless in the Aulosphærida, very thick and stratified in the Orosphærida, the enclosed canal very wide in the former, very narrow in the latter. The stratification of the concentric cylindrical lamellæ, which surround the narrow axial canal, is effected by the gradual deposition of the concentric layers, and is very similar to that which is found in the thick spicula of many sponges. The peculiar structure of the bars in the Orosphærida becomes very distinct if the skeleton be burned, or acted upon by fire for some time; it then assumes a brown colour and its surface often appears dimpled. Sometimes the concave dimples on the surface of the bars are rather deep and separated by prominent crests (Pl. [107], figs. 4, 7). The few genera of Orosphærida which are here distinguished have all the same structure, are closely allied, and differ mainly in the shape of the outer surface of the lattice-sphere. The latter is quite simple and smooth only in Orona. In the common Orosphæra (Pl. [106], figs. 1-3) it is studded with radial spines. In the most frequent form, Oroscena, the shell has a pyramidal or tent-shaped elevation on the base of each radial spine, and usually the bases of the neighbouring spines are connected by strong prominent crests, the edges of the three-sided or four-sided pyramids (Pl. [12], fig. 1; Pl. [106], fig. 4). This remarkable form is more or less polyhedral, with concave sides, and is similar to the characteristic shells which are represented by Auloscena among the Aulosphærida, by Sagoscena and Sagoplegma among the Sagosphærida (compare Pls. [108] and [110]). The pyramids or tents, however, are in these latter more regularly and distinctly developed than in the Orosphærida. The radial spines which arise form the top of the pyramids are often branched, and the branches become connected to form an outer enveloping secondary shell or a loose spongy framework in Oroplegma (Pl. [107], fig. 1).
The radial spines of the Orosphærida never exhibit a constant number or disposition in the individual species; their usual number is from twenty to sixty. Their form exhibits two different types, which, however, are not sharply separated; robust club-shaped and slender rod-shaped spines. The robust club-shaped spines are usually about as long as the diameter of the shell; they are longitudinally striped in the basal part, spinulate or reticulately dimpled in the distal part; sometimes they are straight, at other times curved or undulate (Pl. [106], figs. 1-4; Pl. [107], figs. 4-6). The slender rod-shaped spines are usually longer than the diameter of the shell, cylindrical, more or less curved or even undulate, smooth or thorny, sometimes irregularly branched, and often the branches are all or partly connected (Pl. [106], fig. 3; Pl. [107], fig. 1). In the majority of the shells observed the radial spines were found to be partly broken off. Their structure is the same as that of the bars of the network; but the central axial canal and the surrounding concentric lamellæ are usually more distinct than in the latter.
The central capsule of the Orosphærida lies in the centre of the spherical lattice-shell, surrounded by the voluminous calymma, which fills up its cavity. The form, structure, and size of the central capsule are the same as in the closely allied Aulosphærida (Pl. [111], fig. 2). Its diameter is usually about 0.2, or between 0.15 and 0.25, rarely more than 0.3 or less than 0.12. The dark phæodium is of about the same volume as the central capsule, and envelops its oral half with the radiate operculum and the proboscis of the astropyle. The two opposite parapylæ are small.
Synopsis of the Genera of Orosphærida.
| I. Subfamily Oronida. Surface of the shell without pyramidal or tent-shaped elevations. |  | Surface smooth, without radial spines, | 671. Orona. |
| Surface studded with simple or branched radial spines, | 672. Orosphæra. | ||
| II. Subfamily Oroscenida. Surface of the shell with numerous pyramidal or tent-shaped elevations. |  | Pyramids of the surface free, without spongy envelope, | 673. Oroscena. |
| Pyramids of the surface connected by a spongy envelope or an external lattice-shell, | 674. Oroplegma. |