Stolella himalayana, nov.
This species may be distinguished from S. indica by (i) its entirely recumbent zoœcia, and (ii) the lateral branches of its zoarium.
Fig. 49.—Stolella himalayana (types, from the Kumaon lakes).
A. The greater part of a young zoarium. B. Part of a much older zoarium.
Zoarium entirely recumbent, consisting of zoœcia joined together, often in groups of three, by slender, transparent, tubular processes. These processes are often of great relative length; they are formed by a modification of the posterior or proximal part of the zoœcia, from which they are not separated by a partition, and they increase in length up to a certain point more rapidly than the zoœcia proper. A zoœcium often gives rise first to an anterior daughter-zoœcium, the proximal part of which becomes elongate and attenuated in due course, and then to a pair of lateral daughter-zoœcia situated one on either side. As a result of this method of budding a zoarium with a close superficial resemblance to that of Paludicella is at first produced, but as the colony increases in age and complexity this resemblance largely disappears, for the zoœcia and their basal tubules grow over one another and often become strangely contorted (fig. 49).
Zoœcia elongate and slender, flattened on the ventral, strongly convex on the dorsal surface; rather deep in proportion to their breadth; the ectocyst colourless, not very transparent except on the stolon-like tubular part; dorsal keel and furrow as a rule absent; orifice unusually inconspicuous, situated on a tubercle on the dorsal surface.
Polypide stout and short; the tip of the fundus of the stomach capable of very complete constriction; the retractor muscles unusually short and stout.
Statoblasts. Only free statoblasts have been observed. They resemble those of S. indica, but are perhaps a little longer and more elongate.
Types in the Indian Museum.