The Indian race is only distinguished from the typical form by its greater luxuriance of growth and by the fact that the "tail" of the zoœcia is often of relatively great length, sometimes equaling or exceeding the rest of the zoœcium. The stem, which is divided at irregular intervals by partitions, often crosses and recrosses its own course and even anastomoses, and a fur-like structure is formed in which the zoœcia representing the hairs become much elongated; but upright branches are never formed. The zoarium has a greenish or greyish tinge.
Type in the Indian Museum.
Geographical Distribution.—B. caudata subsp. bengalensis is common in brackish water in the Ganges delta, where it often occurs in close association with Victorella bengalensis, and also at the south end of the Chilka Lake in the north-east of the Madras Presidency. Although it has not yet been found elsewhere, it probably occurs all round the Indian coasts.]
This division consists of two very distinct families, the species of which are easily distinguished at a glance by the fact that in one (the Paludicellidæ) the zoœcia are tubular, while in the other (the Hislopiidæ) they are broad and flattened. The anatomical and physiological differences between the two families are important, and they are associated together mainly on account of the method of budding by means of which their zoaria are produced.
Fig. 35.—Single zoœcia of Victorella and Hislopia (magnified).
A, zoœcium of Victorella pavida, Kent, with the polypide retracted (after Kraepelin).
B, zoœcium of Hislopia lacustris, Carter (typical form from the United Provinces), with the collar completely and the tentacles partly protruded.
A=collar; B=orifice; C=tentacles; D=pharynx; E=œsophagus proper; F=gizzard; G=stomach; G'=cardiac portion of stomach; H=intestine; J=rectum; K=anus; L=young egg; M=green cysts in gizzard; N=testes; O=ovary; O'=funiculus.
The muscles are omitted except in fig. B.
Paludicellidæ, Allman, Mon. Fresh-Water Polyzoa, p. 113 (1857). Homodiætidæ, Kent, Q. J. Micr. Sci. x, p. 35 (1870). Victorellidæ, Hincks, Brit. Marine Polyzoa, p. 558 (1880). Paludicellidées, Jullien, Bull. Soc. zool. France, x, p. 174 (1885). Paludicellides, Loppens, Ann. Biol. lacustre, iii, p. 170 (1908). Victorellides, id., ibid. p. 171.